The Red Cross in Haiti

I think I mentioned on here before that I contribute to a few charities, but I'm thinking of stopping the Red Cross because they keep sending me quite expensive paperware gifts that must cancel out my donations.
Unnecessary, and a waste of money. I keep meaning to write to them about it.
But that is pretty shocking about the Haiti situation.

An interesting link, thank you bags and like when I have been doing a bit more reading. My understanding is that Haiti is now in a parlous state, in that NGOs are pulling out and no one is willing to invest in the country. I find it astonishing that the Red Cross preferred foreign rather than local assistants, even though most of these could speak neither French nor Creole. It's all very depressing. Of course, people gave willingly at first, because immediate aid was needed as the survivors lacked even the basics of life and because many feel that giving money is all they can do to help but the task of rebuilding one of the world's poorest countries seems to have been spectacularly mismanaged.

I also wonder, if the Red Cross, such a well established and experienced charity can't do it, who can?

Makes one wonder what is the point of donating!

Been reading some more about it - the Clintons headed up some of the relief work for a while. It seems to have been beset with red tape and mismanagement, with lots of money poured into sticking plaster efforts and lots more siphoned away into assets for the disaster organisations. Much disagreement between Haitian minsters and those holding the funds. Too many layers of aid, all taking their 7 or 10% as it trickles down for the Haitians, who need infrastructure of housing, plumbing, roads, schools and hospitals and have received very little because no-one can agree a way forward.

Thanks for that interesting (but concerning) article thatbags.

My husband has been talking about this ever since the earthquake happened in 2011. I think there was also a documentary some time ago that said nothing was being done in Haiti, or indeed many of the countries that have been the subject of DEC appeals.

Who monitors these charities and holds them to account to check that they are using the money wisely? People across the world are usually very generous in donating when disasters occur but if they feel that charities can't be trusted to use the money in the way it was intended they may stop giving.

Thanks, bags. The Red Cross is seen as a welcome aid organisatiin that can cross frontiers, but this indicates they have lost their way in Haiti and failed to fulfil their promises. I wonder what the Disasters Emergency Committee has been doing whilst so little has been happening?