The following is a timeline of key events in the history of humanitarian aid, international relief and development aid.

• 24 June 1859 - Battle of Solferino - Henry Dunant (who went on to found the International Committee of the Red Cross) is inspired to organise to assist the victims of war.

• 1863 Foundation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

• June 28, 1948, the United States government flew supplies into the Western-held sectors of Berlin over the blockade during 1948-1949, known as the Berlin Airlift

• 1968 Biafran War - disagreement about how to deal with gross human rights abuses cause a split that will result in a group of Red Cross doctors forming Médecins Sans Frontières.

• 1992 Operation Provide Relief, humanitarian relief for Somalia, was led by the United States. After looting of the aid, it was reorganized as Operation Restore Hope, an American military operation with the support of the United Nations to deliver humanitarian aid and restore order to Somalia, that eventually lead to the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

• 1995 Responsing to a flood in North Korea that caused a famine, the United States government initially provided over $8 million in general humanitarian (China was the only country to initially contribute more aid). However, eight years later, the United States government has provided $644 million in aid to the country which comprises nearly 50% of the aid going to North Korea.

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