Part 6/10:
Another critical aspect to consider is the destructive cycle that foreign aid perpetuates. When aid reaches villages in the form of free goods—be it mosquito nets, shoes, or food—a wave of adverse effects follows. Local merchants often go bankrupt, unable to compete with these free handouts, leading to a collapse of local businesses and industries. Corrupt officials frequently siphon food aid for personal profit, further exacerbating the issue and pushing local farmers out of business. This ultimately forces them to migrate towards already overcrowded urban areas, dismantling the local food production system and worsening the hunger crisis.