This is a peer post of sorts to charley-on-the-mta’s call on the US to help the refugee crisis by taking in refugees from Syria.To whoever has not been keeping up with the news: a humanitarian crisis of epic proportion is playing out on the shores of Turkey, with drowned refugees trying to escape to Greece – in a number of railroad stations in Hungary, whose prime minister has made clear he wishes no Muslim refugees in his very Catholic country – on the highways of Austria, with tens of asphyxiated refugees found in the back of an air-sealed van – in the towns of Germany, France – blocking trains in the Eurotunnel under the British Channel – and so on.
The situation is tragic, and many good people are suffering just because they are trying to run away from a territory made uninhabitable by the Islamic State.
Charley ends his entreat with a call to donate to a variety of organizations who help refugees.
But let me stop to inopportune you with this question: How can one trust with much confidence some of the flagship charities that usually raise funds on occasions such as this?
There is little control or transparency as to how hundreds of millions of dollars in donation money is spent.There are no auditing requirements – and where charity reports are audited, there is little confidence in the audits themselves.
The problem, sadly, is systemic, and tends to happen to what one might suppose are our most reputable charities.
In the US, which charity is most well known – among those dealing with humanitarian crises? It is the Red Cross.
But does anyone remember this Summer’s ProPublica expose on Red Cross and Haiti?
Half a billion dollars spent by Red Cross in Haiti, supposedly as relief for earthquake victims. Yet, not much to show for this relief. Only six homes built.
The ProPublica article came out in June, 2015. Since then, there has been no follow-up. Not in the mainstream press, not by tax agencies, not by law enforcement. In the country’s flagship newspaper – the New York Times – this story barely made it as a blog post. In the Washington Post, the expose is noted, but there’s no follow up. Same for the Wall St Journal.
The Dept of Justice, the state law enforcement in the states where funds were raised – all asleep at the switch.
The national press asked no further questions; local outlets were not interested in the story. Large charities like Red Cross are untouchable. The money-raising spigot should not be stopped! There is too much at stake for too many people to start asking inconvenient questions.
So now it comes to a real crisis of refugees in Europe… Money is immediately needed to help refugees on the ground… People are in need and are suffering…
Who can one one trust with charity donations?
Not the US Red Cross, and not any charity that is as unaccountable as the Red Cross.
terrymcginty says
Our government should act, not just individuals.