Includes bibliographical references and index.

"In this important, engaging memoir Sadako Ogata recounts the experiences and lessons of her tenure as United Nations high commissioner for refugees during the "turbulent decade" of the 1990s. A tireless advocate for the victims of war, Ogata tells the on-the-ground story of four volatile regions in which she directed relief: Iraq, the Balkans, the African Great Lakes region, and Afghanistan. She explores issues of refugee protection and humanitarian assistance; coordination between humanitarian organizations, NATO, and other militaries; and the global political and strategic climate in which these crises occurred. With an eye to the future, she asks the world community to assess the limits of humanitarian action, and to work toward real political solutions when conflicts arise."--BOOK JACKET