Ya know, I was once in a place that got "aid" after a disaster.(a Blizzard in the 70s).
While I didn't personally profit from it, I know that some folks got tents, food and all sort of stuff for free.
My thought is that the the first wave of aid goes straight into the pockets of the folks on the ground. All this billions of dollars in CASH is going to pay for $5 20oz bottles of water and $10 cans of beans.
What else do you think this influx of cash is going to do? It's going to pay for limited resources at inflated prices.
I don't have the answer, but once our troops are on the ground and the ships that make water are pumping out thousands of gallons per day, it'll finally start doing some good.
I think you're right. The best way is to get the local infrastructure and supply lines back to normal as soon as possible. That way where people do have jobs they can afford to use the local shops etc. keeping the economy going. Enabling people to go back to self sufficiency means that additional aid to those who can't manage without or who need help on top can have it without undermining the economy.