U.S. Donations for Tsunami Relief Pass $1 Billion Mark
PND News: U.S. Donations for Tsunami Relief Pass $1 Billion Mark
Tsunami-relief groups working in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and the Maldives are taking extra measures to account for all the money donated to help victims of the disaster, the New York Times reports. And the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has announced that private donations for tsunami relief from organizations and individuals in the U.S. has passed the $1 billion mark.
Much has been done by nonprofit organizations and NGOs over the last several years to improve their accountability to stakeholders and constituents. Despite such safeguards, large-scale disaster relief programs are prone to confusion, as overextended if well-intentioned aid workers struggle to distribute aid in countries where corruption is the rule. Relief workers routinely must pay small amounts of money to get supplies through checkpoints or past customs officials, and all too often have to contend with the hijacking of trucks filled with food or medicine.
But the situation is improving. After years of tweaking, monitoring systems have been improved and food aid is now the most traceable of all relief items, said Neil Gallagher, director of communications for the UN's World Food Program. And with financial aid, relief agencies increasingly are turning to internal and external auditors to track the flow of money.
"I think it is very helpful that all of these groups have been willing to publicly state the risk of corruption," said Peter Rooke of Transparency International. "But there are still real challenges out there, challenges that vary country by country and within countries."
Becker, Elizabeth.
Strom, Stephanie.
“Groups Pledge to Account for Tsunami Aid.”
New York Times
2/25/05.
“Tsunami Relief Giving.”
Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University Web Site
2/25/05.
Primary Subject: Tsunami Relief
Secondary Subject(s): International Affairs/Development
Location(s): India, International, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand
FC006497
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