AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANITARIAN AID AND PEACE-BUILDING .

Abstract

This study assessed the nexus between the concept and practice of humanitarian aid (also known as development aid) and peace-building in societies affected by violent conflict and disasters. The objective was to examine whether humanitarian interventions facilitate or undermine sustainable peace processes. Using qualitative methods and secondary data from scholarly works, policy documents, and institutional reports, the study demonstrates that while humanitarian aid preserves life and alleviates suffering, its short-term orientation often conflicts with the structural imperatives of peace-building. Findings reveal that emergency relief frameworks prioritize immediate survival but rarely address the political, social, and economic root causes of conflict, thereby reinforcing cycles of fragility. Guided by Conflict Transformation Theory (CTT), the study emphasizes the need to shift from reactive relief measures to integrative strategies that link humanitarian response with long-term peace-building objectives. The research contributes to scholarship and practice by recommending the embedding of peace-building principles within humanitarian programming. Strengthening collaboration between aid providers, development actors, and local stakeholders is essential to bridging the gap between short-term relief and durable conflict transformation. Linking humanitarian assistance to structural reforms offers a pathway to resilience, stability, and sustainable coexistence.

KEYWORDS:. Humanitarian Aid, Peacebuilding, Conflict, Natural Disaster.