Healing Hunger: Post-War Humanitarian Action

The First World War deteriorated the economic situation of the entire world, leading to a terrible humanitarian situation in many European countries. Furthermore, in many European countries, including Finland, the Baltic States, Poland, Hungary, Russia and others, the War did not end in 1918. Many of these countries experienced intense hunger and deprivation. The aim of this chapter is to analyze how international organizations, primarily the American Relief Administration, which directed the largest food foreign aid groups operating on the continent, coped with the deteriorating humanitarian situation created by the hunger crisis. This chapter traces how information about the health situation of the population influenced the opinions of governments, societies, charity organizations, and discussions concerning the question of food provision for the population during the trying economic conditions. It also details the activities of the main humanitarian organizations and the challenges they encountered