Poor Nations Complain Not All Charity Reaches Victims

Aby Ibrahim Niger’s health minister late last year voiced dissatisfaction with international aid groups. Now other poor nations and those affected by disaster are also expressing mistrust about NGO reliability - how money is raised versus how it is spent. Leaders, including those from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, charge that NGOs rely on specific crises to collect funds and then spend the money elsewhere. The charge coincides with concerns of donors who want assurance that money is reaching intended targets. NGOs defend their allocation practices and maintain that inconsistencies in monetary distribution result from competing needs that must be managed simultaneously. Some groups after the Asian tsunami, like Oxfam, refuse to accept targeted funds from donors. Other NGO organizers point out that unforeseen costs and circumstances complicate delivery of relief. Finally, NGOs point out that governments of struggling nations hesitate to admit that some crises are overwhelming. Aside from such arguments, any criticism from recipients could be risky – because NGOs could abandon the nations that complain and find others in need. – Yale Global