It might be hard to understand, but the government wants these people to die. It isn’t that they are paraniod of the US or fear intervention, they actually want these people to die.

First, most of their opposition comes from the country-side. It is remote and thus hard to control and quell opposition. They can’t afford to station troops in every village, but starvation and disease all weaken potential opposition.

Second, control of aid (money, food, roads, etc.) allows them to coerce others. “Support us or you don’t get any medicine.” Surprise… your support goes up.

Third, aid money can be turned into weapons, bribes, etc. used to prop up the government.

Forth, blaming foreigners is important. If the masses think that the US, UN, etc. are responsible for all this bad stuff, then they won’t be busy fighting their government.

I know it is hard to think this way or for most Americans to consider that others actually systematically think this way… but that is how such dictatorships work. They would bomb their own people, starve them, disease them, etc. if they thought they could get away with it — and in many countries they do.