Humanitarian relief has always focused on meeting the needs of people affected by war and armed conflict. Today, the same is increasingly true of development programmes. The challenge for aid agencies is not only to apply development principles to their emergency work , but also to address the issues arising from the reality of military conflict and destruction. Working for change brings aid agencies face to face with violence: powerless on one hand, and abuse of power on the other. In this collection Alex de Waal focuses on famine as a tool for violating human rights, while Francisco Alvarez Solis and Pauline Martin, writing about El Salvador, show how civilian organisations mobilised for peace in the midst of war. Lucy Bonnerjea addresses the needs of children who become separated from their families, and Hans Buwalda describes work in the Philippines that helps children come to terms with their suffering. Derek Summerfield offers guidance on policy and practise to NGO's involved in conflict-related emergencies.