The increasingly polarized nature of many of the world's conflicts is jeopardizing the future of independent humanitarian action. The space for such activities is being squeezed as some radical groups begin to associate humanitarians with Western-led campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Furthermore, the military have developed their own aid programmes, whose additional objective is to try to win over suspicious populations. These twin developments diminish security for humanitarians and reduce their ability to deliver protection and assistance that is based solely on need.