Literature Review on Humanitarian Aid and Conflict Zones

The assignment aims to investigate the intricate dynamics of delivering humanitarian aid in conflict zones, focusing on case studies from Syria and Myanmar. It explores various research methodologies utilized to understand the effectiveness and challenges of aid delivery in such turbulent environments. Through critical analysis, the study seeks to provide insights into how humanitarian efforts can be optimized despite logistical, political, and security obstacles, ultimately contributing to better-informed policies and practices.

DISSERTATION: THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF AID
IN CONFLICT ZONES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of the study................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Aims and Objectives of the study......................................................................................2
Aim:................................................................................................................................ 2
Objectives:..................................................................................................................... 2
Research questions:....................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Rationale of the study....................................................................................................... 3
1.4 Significance of the study................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Specification of research................................................................................................... 4
1.6 Structure of Dissertation................................................................................................... 5
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................ 7
2.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 7
2.2 Aid leads to conflict aggravation in regions.............................................................7
Concept of humanitarian................................................................................................9
Principle of humanitarian.............................................................................................. 10
2.2 Effectiveness of humanitarian in Myanmar and Syria.............................................10
Positive and negative effect of humanitarian aid on conflict development...................11
CHAPTER- 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...............................................................................20
Introduction.................................................................................................................. 20
Research philosophies.................................................................................................. 20
Research approach....................................................................................................... 21
Research design........................................................................................................... 22
Research techniques-................................................................................................... 23
Data collection-............................................................................................................ 23
Data analysis-............................................................................................................... 24
Sampling-..................................................................................................................... 25
Research limitation-...................................................................................................... 25
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................................. 27
4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 27
4.2 Analysis and finding............................................................................................... 27
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................34
5.1 Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 34
5.2 Recommendations.................................................................................................. 36
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................... 39

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The situation of disagreement as well as an argument on the specific topic among
two parties is known as conflict. In this both the conflicted party not reaches up to the
solution where different kinds of help taken by them. It can arise between two persons,
companies or countries. For resolving it generally, external parties are hired which analyses
about the situation and come at the possible as well as the effective solution. Aid is an
important aspect which makes a contribution to the dispute resolution up to the greater
extent. The present dissertation emphasises on the aid through which conflicts solved
among regions. Further, the situation of the conflict is considered between and within a
country rather than individual or group of people. The concept in which help by one party is
done for another in order to make a solution of the dispute is considered as aid. There are
several types of aids available through which conflict in region or country solved up to the
better level (Malkki,2016). Moreover, various aid includes financial, humanitarian, foreign
etc. which are effective. In the financial aid, the third party gives monetary support to the
suffered or conflicted country. Humanitarian is one of the highly important where people
help in terms of monetary and non-monetary both.
The aid in which material, as well as logistics assistance, is given to those regions
and people who need help is known as humanitarian aid. It is one of highly effective aspect
through which problems and issues are resolved properly within the country. It is one type of
help for the short period of time. Apart from this, a key objective of the humanitarian aid is
to save the life of suffered people who are suffering from disaster, water flood, wars,
famines etc. In this, donations are given by the human for solving issues of suffered people
and food items are also provided up to the larger extent (Rieff, 2013). Therefore,
humanitarian aid is of the both types of monetary and non-financially which support for
conflict resolution. The present dissertation mainly focuses on the humanitarian aid where it
has been analysed that it is up to which level helpful to make solutions within conflicted
gions. Along with this, foreign aid party is also taken into consideration in the study through
which conflicts within the countries are solved. It shows that how foreign aid party
supportive to reduce vicious cycle of disputes as well as its development in a country.
In the world, wide range of issues and conflicts arisen which create a negative impact
on economic growth rate up to the higher level. The present dissertation looks upon conflict
and aid comes into consideration within Syria and Myanmar countries in the world. The
situation of dispute arisen in both the countries are regarding to the Muslim unity where
they create violence. Further, the reason of doing violence activities by them is for getting
as well as using their fundamental rights which are taken by government (Hyndman, 2015).
1

Humanitarian aid provided to Myanmar country by other regions through which this
democratic conflict resolve up to the certain level. Therefore, the Muslim community of
Myanmar able to use their humanity and fundamental rights within the region. Apart from
this, when talking about the Syria conflict then in this Iran country is also included. As per
this case, population want that in Syria and Iran only Muslim community will live where big
issues came into consideration. In order to make a solution of Syrian conflict, humanitarian
aid given by the US, Russia etc. Moreover, with the help of assessing the impact of such aid
within both the country's conflict condition aim of the study will be achieved.
1.2 Aims and Objectives of the study
Aim:
To analyse the effectiveness of humanitarian aid in resolving the issues of conflicted
regions: A case study on the conflict in Syria and Myanmar.
From the above stated aim of the study, objectives are to be framed so that aim will
be achieved in an appropriate direction. Therefore, objectives of the present dissertation are
stated below:
Objectives:
 To identify that aid leads to conflict aggravation in regions.
 To assess the contribution of humanitarian aid in ending the conflict.
 To ascertain whether foreign aid party is effective in terms of resolving the state of a
vicious cycle in conflicted situation and leads to development.
 To determine the effectiveness of aid if aid comes during the conflict as opposed to
after conflict.
In the present dissertation, those things which will be covered are presented on the
basis of the objectives properly. Further, these are prepared by considering the aim of the
whole study in a proper way. Apart from this, on the basis of objectives following research
questions are framed:
Research questions:
 Does Aid lead to conflict aggravation?
 Can humanitarian aid truly end a conflict?
 Is foreign aid party to a vicious cycle of conflict and development?
 Does the effectiveness differ if aid comes during the conflict as opposed to after
conflict?
2

1.3 Rationale of the study
Within country or group of people, several kinds of issues and conflicts come into
consideration which affects the economy adversely. Reason behind conducting the present
study is to reflect about disputes arisen within two countries which are Myanmar and Syria.
In this, the government of Myanmar not provided all the human and fundamental rights to
the Muslim people for using. Due to this, they start to create violence within a region which
lead to arising issue of conflict. In the present times, Syria is also facing this particular
problem. The study analyses about the humanitarian aid along with foreign aid provided by
several countries to the conflicted regions. As this kind of aid given up to the suffered people
the then issue of conflict resolved highly within regions. Further, basic rationale behind
conducting the current study is for identifying a level of effectiveness of humanitarian aid in
the conflicted region (Kennedy, 2015). When looking at the ways of solving disputes the
there are several methods available which support to Myanmar and Syria problems. In these
countries, humanitarian aid is also taken into consideration which is assessed. With the help
of this study, the reader able to determine that in which ways humanitarian aid is supportive
for regions in order to make conflict solution. Hence, the reason for making analysis of the
research is to analyse the impact of material, as well as logistic activities performed by the
human, are up to which level effective for conflict regions.
1.4 Significance of the study
The present dissertation is based on the effectiveness of humanitarian aid on the
conflicts arisen within a country. The problem of the dispute taken into consideration for
conducting the present analysis is the Myanmar and Syria region. For making effective
solution and end of such conflicts humanitarian aid provided to the mentioned countries.
The study is identifying that up to which level this kind of aid is helpful to the suffered
people from violence done by Muslim community in Myanmar. Due to this, the analysis is
supportive of the affected people for assessing that in which ways they come out from the
conflict (Barnett, 2016). Along with this, the population who not know about the
humanitarian aid will also supportive for getting knowledge about this. Under this type of
conflict solution, several kinds of ways and aspects included which is also helpful for the
people. Apart from such all the things, the study is important for making a fruitful analysis of
the data which gathered. The study will be appurtenant for other readers and researchers
also to ascertain the impact of humanistic aid made upon a conflict of Myanmar and Syria
countries.
Once the study completed and published then useful for those investigators who
make analysis using the secondary information. Therefore, it can be said that for secondary
data users the present dissertation will be highly significant. Along with this, in order to do
3

further study on the topic of humanitarian aid used for region conflict resolution also the
research is supportive (Ticktin, 2015). In case, a new investigator not having adequate
knowledge in context to the aid in form of logistic and material assistance by people then
using this research able to make clearance about this. Moreover, when the human goes for
contributing to region dispute resolution then the present research is helpful for getting its
effectiveness. Hence, it can be said that study of the impact on conflict of humanitarian aid
is highly significant for present and future both research.
1.5 Specification of research
Those methods, as well as tools which will be hereby considered in conducting proper
research, are presented in this aspect. Further, the specification of the current study and
research are mentioned below:
 Research approach: There is two type of research approach that is inductive and
deductive. The research which includes the qualitative data will always apply the
inductive approach of the research which helps them to analyse the result on the
different theory based.
 Research design: There is a different type of research design that is available to
the researcher in order to analyse the information, facts, and figures which are
related to the chosen subject (Fassin, 2016). The different type of research design is
descriptive, exploratory and co-relation. The descriptive research design has been
selected for the present dissertation.
 Research philosophy: It consists of two different terms i.e. epistemology and
doxology. There are two types that are interpretivism and positivism. For this
desertification, interpretivism philosophy have been used which provide the flexible
research framework and help researcher to believe that what is the reality.
 Data collection: There are two ways of collecting the data that is primary and
secondary (Rieff, 2013). Primary data is always being collected from the first time
whereas the secondary data is collected from the different sources where the data is
already being collected. Here primary data is being gathered with the help of
interview made from the respondent.
 Data sampling: It is not possible for the researcher to collect the data from the
large population so he has collected the data from the samples that are 10 harbour
rohingya refugees and 5 aid providers of Syria and 5 aid servers of Myanmar.
 Data analysis: It is considered as the technique to analyse the data which is being
collected from the primary sources or secondary sources (Hyndman, 2015). For this
desertification thematic analysis is done.
4

1.6 Structure of Dissertation
There are various chapters that have been included in the dissertation, these play
very important role in completing the study in the effective and efficient manner. The
different chapters that are included in it, that are as follows:
Chapter 1: Introduction:
The research is started with the introduction of the humanitarian and effect of
humanitarian on the Myanmar and Syria. The aim, research question and objective is framed
in chapter 1. The goal of the investigation is discussed in this chapter, the research
methodologies are involved in the end and that ate included in the present research.
Chapter 2: Literature review:
The next chapter, the several anthers are being considered as the subject matter and
further, they are discussed. The depth research is made in this chapter where the view point
is regarded and criticism is made. Apart from this, various kinds of the articles related to this
topic are gathered initially and reviewed them. In addition to this, books and journals about
humanitarian aid are also analysed in this chapter.
Chapter 3: Research methodology:
There are several tools and method is being used by the research in the dissertation
are included in this chapter. This will also justify the selection of appropriate technique in
the research. By using the methods of research like approach, investigation, philosophy,
design etc. study is conducted.
Chapter 4: Data analysis:
All the data which is collected from the primary and secondary sources is being
analysed in this chapter. Thematic data analysis is being used with the help of chart and
graphs. Moreover, it one of the pivotal chapter of the whole study because it considered as
the base of conclusion.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendation:
With the support of chapter 1 to 4, the researcher will summarise the whole study. At
the at of dissertation, every person will serve some recommendation that helps to improve
the disadvantage and problems that have been held in the research.
5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
A literature review is one of the important chapters of the dissertation which
incorporate different types of information. It helps the researcher in gather a large amount
of data and apply the same in respect to get the valid outcome. The present study is based
on to analyse the effectiveness of humanitarian aid in resolving the issues of conflicted
regions: A case study on the conflict in Syria and Myanmar Therefore, this chapter cover
secondary information on the basis of aim and objectives. Along with this different themes
will be prepared on the basis of objectives so that information can be gathered for producing
the valid outcome. However, the effectiveness of Humanitarian aid in ending conflict is
assessed.
2.2 Aid leads to conflict aggravation in regions.
According to the view of Kinninmont and House, (2014) Aid is the support provided
by the non government organisations to help the areas in danger or the regions facing the
issues of conflicts between the government and the local groups taking the region under
control. The local groups or the terrorist organisation against the political parties in the
country creating problems and demanding the country to be called as an Islamic state. In
the regions of Syria the government and pro- government forces are creating problems for
the civilians. They are attacking the rescue troops and the convoys providing aid to the
people stucked in the different regions. Earlier the government has prevented more then
70000 medical equipments being delivered into the besieged areas according to UN report.
People of Syria are facing many problem and are forced to leave the areas formed by the
relief agencies. Armed agencies are stopping the rescue teams and are not allowing the
outside organisations to deliver the aids to the people of this region. As per the view of
Gleick, (2014) the forces are scared that if the outside organisations will provide aid in the
country it will create problems for them and affect their presence. The aids are constantly
being delivered and the armed forces are attacking the convoys and unloading the aid to
make sure it does not reach the people for their support. The armed forces do not want any
involvement of outside organisation and provide any kind of relief to the civilians. If the
agencies are successful in providing aid to the civilians it will be a huge backlash for the
armed troops and their power would be deceased. They are not in favour of the organisation
to help the civilians and are attacking the areas besieged by the government.
Al-Salem and et.al (2016) states that in Syria conflicts are also increasing due to the
involvement of government as well as UN organisation by providing humanitarian aid to the
civilians. As the demand of aid increases in the country and involvement of government
agencies increases it creates problems for the armed forces like ISIS. It is the group who is
trying to take control over the country and destroying the besieged places of government

agencies. Myanmar is also suffering from the same conditions but the pates have made it
clear that all of them suffering from armed attack are provided with the humanitarian aid.
The restriction on humanitarian aid has facilitated the people with the help of basic
requirement although, the civilians were facing the issues related more aggravation. As the
conflicts in the areas of kanchin state was creating problems as there were many areas
which were beyond government control. To provide humanitarian aid to these places the
government and the outside organisation had to overcome to the issues of the kanchin state
local army and the Myanmar army. The war raised in the number of deaths and unable to
provide aid to the victims of the state.
Importance of Humanitarian aid
According to the view of Phillips, (2015) it is made to save lives, controls the
suffering and helps in maintaining dedicated human dignity for all. It helps in creating a
better world even after the crises are done whether man made or natural. When there is a
conflict in any region of the world or common and uncommon places on the planet, whether
it be an armed conflict or natural breakdown. The humanitarian aid is designed to save lives
of those suffering due to it and require emergency help Taleb and et.al, (2015) . Its main
purpose is to create a safe environment where all the areas of development are covered.
In times of need, it brings relief like in Syria many civilians are facing issues related to
armed attack there also many organisations are working to provide medical aid to the
people.
Every year due to natural disaster, armed conflicts, wars and much more crises
hundreds of millions of people suffer. It is provided on the basis of need and with the
objective to save lives, curing sufferings and covering areas of human dignity. They provide
support to refugee at the time of conflict which help them in survive tough condition. Many
civilians are becoming victims of the man made disasters in Syria and are homeless, the
special agencies are taking initiatives for their support and providing place to stay till the
time government does not come up with a solution to the problem Berman, (2013).
Affects those who are in need and require help the most
It works on helping the people who are in need of help the most like Syria and
Myanmar people who are facing problem due to conflict the children born in poverty, or
regions where the diseases are spread the most and require medical attention . It's up to
them to protect them from it, there are many organisations working on curing these
problems and makes sure to help them escape from terrorist attack and provide support to
Syria refugee people related to, poverty, safety against natural disaster Nowshin, (2017).
Uncommon areas are hard to cover for any country and safeguard their rights is as
difficult for any organisation such as Syria where people are facing conflict and terrorist

attacked. Along with this there are the most uncommon areas of the planet and require
emergency help as they suffer from dangers frequently like hurricanes, earthquakes,
tsunamis, floods (The fractured response of humanitarian aid in Syria, 2015). The UN
organisations make sure that countries like Syria and Myanmar are not forgotten and are
reached with medical emergencies as soon as possible.
It provides a sustainable development source of key
To achieve a sustainable development at many locations, education is the most
required recipe. Therefore, it is important for the Aid organisation to provide education
facility to refugee of Syria and Myanmar country so that they can live healthy and happy life
(Durand, 2015). By focusing on the education they make a difference in building a long term
growth and fixing the problems permanently. It helps them to dream big and achieve their
knowledge thirst and help society to develop.
Concept of humanitarian
According to the view of Economy, S and Monitor, (2016) Humanitarian is an active
belief which value in the human life, human being practice different ttpe kindly treatment
and serve assistance to the other people in order to create the good humanity for both of
logical and moral reasons. It is the philosophical principle to relocate towards the
enhancement of human race in the different areas which is related to the various activities
that reflect human welfare. This concept is also known as humanitarianism. In the
contradicting view of Weiss, (2016) Humanitarian is one who is devoted to promote the
human welfare and increase in social reforms. The individual who have objective to help
other people will always try to enhance the happiness and welfare of the people. There are
several areas where the person need assistance of humans such as in the conflict zone,
natural disaster area, lack of development, poor infrastructure. These all factors leads to
heightened weakness of the personnel to have different services which is given by the
country.
In the view of Akparibo and Holdsworth, (2016) there are several humanitarian
agencies which is created by the government, that all have effective control over those
areas where the people need to enhance their welfare. It is very to say the word
humanitarian but it is as much as difficult to achieve those practices which is being
delivered in the political neutral manner. It is the responsibility of that agency to provide
proper assistance so that they can improve the condition of their country and serve proper
welfare to the citizen. On the other hand Beadling and Sharp, (2016) stated that
humanitarian is based on the view point of human beings that have right to be respect and
have dignity where all the individual is being treated in the equal manner. It is the activity
which is related to advancing the proper well being of the humans as the whole. It is

basically saving the life of people and promote the dignity in the mid of natural and human
made disasters.
Principle of humanitarian
According to the view of Lahiri and Roberts, (2016) there are various meaning of the
humanitarian but the basic principle is to save the life of people and alleviating the suffering.
It is fundamentally a response which is given in the emergency whether in the case of man
made or natural disaster. The basic rule of humanitarian is humanity that state that the
people whenever and wherever is found suffering should be given assistance in order to
protect their health and life to ensure the human beings respect. There are various people
which is divided into class such as children, women, elder and disable. The rights and dignity
of these people need to have humanitarian aid which must be protected and regard. In the
contracting view of Balcik and Kundakcioglu, (2016) the other principle of the humanitarian
is neutrality the agencies which are included in the humanitarian should not take the
advantage in the hospital and other care centre on the basis of their political, legal,
ideological and regional. There should be openness and transparency for all the people of
the country, it must not create the obstacle while tackling the human rights. It also indicates
that the rights should be specific, clear and limited.
In the view of Gillespie, (2017)the third principle of humanitarian is impartiality which
state that proper aid is given to the person who is suffering. There should be some action
which is to be carried out for the needy people and they must be given priority if there is
some urgent case and there should not have discrimination on the basis of nationality,
gender, regional and belief. On the other hand Economy, S and Monitor, (2016) stated that
operational independence is also major principle of humanitarian where the action must be
taken which is independent from the economic, political and military objective.
2.2 Effectiveness of humanitarian in Myanmar and Syria
According to the view of Weiss, (2016) Myanmar is the country which is rich in the
earthy resources still they have complex humanitarian and political issues. They are one of
the poorest and undemocratic counties in the Asia. The government of the country should
have responsible to serve humanitarian assistance to those people who are disabled by the
terrorist attack. The government should take proper measure to serve assistance, in order to
make that possible they are working with the Red Cross Movement. It is being effective in
the Myanmar, they have also giving fund as the MHF (Myanmar Humanitarian fund). It is the
country based pool funding which is managed by the Humanitarian coordinator. They
provide assistance to the chronic and urgent humanitarian wants of the person which is
being affected by the conflict and disaster. From the year 2007, they have done 84 projects
of about $31.8 million to provide assistance to mote than 955000 people. They recently face

conflict with the Kachin state which have creates violence environment and affect the
millions of people. This have created the humanitarian situation in the Myanmar. They
immediately started preventing the people with the help of humanitarian agencies.
In the contracting view of Akparibo and Holdsworth, (2016) In the Syrian Civil war
more than 40000 people have lost their life, over 2 million people have been injured, 5
million people have been forced to leave Syria and 6.3 million people are internally
displayed. This have make the Syria most changing and complex humanitarian crises in the
globe. In the year 2017 it is being estimated by the government of Syria that 13 million
people and more than 6 million children need humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian is
still an on ongoing conflict, it is not being highly effective in the Syria. There are large
violence that is still taking place and the general safety is not being served to the people
who have been affected by the conflict and war.
Positive and negative effect of humanitarian aid on conflict development
According to the view of Beadling and Sharp, (2016) humanitarian aid is the
logistics and material assistance given to person who need help, this help is usually for the
short term until the long term helps is not given by the government in return. There are
several positive effect of the humanitarian aid from which the most important one is it helps
to save the life of thousands of people. There are large number of organisation that are
increasing day by day so they need proper humanitarian aid so due to increase in the
humanitarian assistance on the basis of conflict development. It has the direct impact on the
armed conflict for their survival to get the tools in order to protect them when they are in
the conflict. In the contracting point of view Lahiri and Roberts, (2016) there are some
negative factors which includes political dilemmas where the political parties try to earn
more advantage at the time of conflict, this aid create the leakage or political taxation, it is
the situation where the potion of aid is given to the fighting parties. Other than that it is
difficult to the country to build institutional memory to improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of the operation of the aid.
2.3 Is foreign aid party to a vicious cycle of conflict and development?
Foreign aid is provided to country or countries where crises and conflict conditions
are high and enormous. The government of disputed nation is unable to stabilise chaotic
situations and demand support and assistance from developed countries. As per Mawdsley,
Savage and Kim, (2014) foreign aid can assist in saving millions of life and helps in
generating hope in those people who suffered from conflicts and crises . In broad sense it
can be defined as financial and technical help provided by one country government to
disputed country government. According to Duffield, (2014) foreign aid addressed issues of
health, poverty, education, humanitarian and infrastructure development in particular