When aid replaces the state

For decades, the international humanitarian system has defined itself by a simple mission: save lives until governments can resume their responsibilities. That assumption is becoming increasingly outdated. Around the world, humanitarian organizations are no longer simply responding to emergencies. They are increasingly performing functions once reserved for governments themselves. They provide healthcare, educate children, distribute food, maintain water and sanitation systems, support livelihoods and, in some cases, help sustain entire communities for years or even decades.