Laura Silsby tried to rehome Haitian children post-earthquake, but was accused of kidnapping and trafficking, as not all kids were orphans. Silsby's case exemplifies the complex effects of humanitarian efforts, which can both relieve and exacerbate suffering.

Operation Babylift in 1975 aimed to evacuate children from Vietnam; motives behind the U.S. mission were questioned. President LBJ sent troops to Vietnam in 1965, but by April 1975, the fall of South Vietnam was imminent.

U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin tried to prevent panic in Saigon as North Vietnamese forces approached, causing concern among locals who aided the U.S.