Feeling helpless

The Syria Campaigm says that 100% goes to building a children's hospital in Aleppo. You have to believe someone.

Lucky girl, I watched a similar item on BBC news, a week or so ago. It showed a tear stained, bewildered little boy. I think he'd lost his mother and sisters. He has since died, as far as I know. I'm an 83 yer old man, it brought me to tears, it was heart rending. I would give to one of these charities, but you never know, if the proper people, will get the benefit. There are too many people, who have their hands in the seed box. I've been involved in some small charities, and there's always someone, who tries to dip in. I'm afraid, I no longer give, much as it grieves me.

act.thesyriacampaign.org/donate/peoples-convoy/?t=1&akid=419.124249.JarxZw

Something specific for the children in Aleppo.

I agree with what you say about SA's crippling attacks on Yemen, ga but when Aden was being savagely attacked by Houthi rebels they were crying out, 'Where are the Saudis?'

It's all such a mess.

See other thread about Boris Johnson

That's why Johnson was slapped down, we are hoping to continue trading our arms to Saudi

I too am a supporter of CAAT - UK weapons are being used in Saudi Arabia’s crippling attacks on Yemen and I feel very, very angry about it. The justification is that if the UK doesn't sell arms to Saudi Arabia then other countries will. Tell that to the children who are being killed and maimed by British bombs and bullets!!

Unfortunately the UK is involved in the situation in the Yemen. so write to complain to your MP - not that they will listen, but they might if enough of us write!
Otherwise choose your charity wisely. I believe that MSF do some marvelous work. And my sister used to do a lot of fundraising for Save the Children - I believe that more of the money gets through to where it is needed.

Stopped by a "charming trugger" yesterday. Glimpsed at what she was trying to get me to donate to, a glossy magazine re helping blind children". I informed her that I do not give my name and address to anyone as they pass it on. The news yesterday that charities are looking into what your house is worth and other circumstances is very worrying. Feel that the news is nothing but bad, when I was young there was some bad news Palestine for instance but there was always something good. I am giving up listening now.

The CEO of Oxfam gets paid £121,000 per year as do many of the big charities. So I refuse to pay his salary. Then I'm afraid these people who need my help don't get it. It's very sad

Saw Aleppo yesterday on the news, almost nothing left of that City, bombs everywhere, civilians, children, I believe some countries are telling the countries who are doing the bombing that there should be a cease fire to let people be rescued from this mayhem.
Donations: I wish there was a guarantee for the money going to where it should go to, sadly not

I was recently hijacked at the check- out in Tesco by a lady offering to pack my bags for a breast cancer charity. I told her that I had once done the race for life and had sent a cheque for £50 to the charity I had a letter back saying Thank-you for your cheque for £27.50. Mistakes happen I just forgot about it until I read that 40% of the women (mostly) who run do not send their money in. I was shocked.
On the One Show the other day they warned about collectors in the street shaking a tin as many are bogus.
I am now very careful - I give to CIN every year and donate to charity shops.
When I read about the drug companies yesterday ripping off the NHS for epilepsy drugs I could have cried.
I know there are many lovely, kind, thoughtful, generous people - I try and focus on that.

I agree. MSF are a very worthy charity which I donate to on a monthly basis.

They will always go where help is needed. Every month they send out a newsletter to inform you of their work and the aid they are providing.

You are given a donor registration number so you know the money is being used appropriately. It makes for a very interesting read, and you realise just what and who is helping in different countries. Give as much as you can afford.

It is terrible. My American friend is an educator who sets up schools in emergency/confict/famine areas and was in Yemen in 2013. Very difficult then. All the work her organisation did has now been 'undone' and girls are not getting educated.

There is a very beautiful area she visited, the island of Socotra. Here's a piece about it from about ten years ago.

www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/travel/tmagazine/03well.socotra.t.html

Some years ago I got talking to an elderly couple just siting quietly holding hands on a bench in a shopping mall. They were from a middle eastern country and had come here as refugees seeking sanctuary. They had left everything behind, all their loved ones, family and friends for a life in a country where they knew no one and didn't speak the language. When I asked what they liked about England the woman in halting English said "where there are no bullets and no bombs" So this situation is not new, it's because we're better informed.

I can't help the children in faraway countries but I'm helping Womans Aid. The local police station is collecting gifts for the women and children and delivering them to their secret house. That's all I can do, give directly to them, knowing it goes straight to them, no admin costs.

I know what you mean, Lucky. It's overwhelming. We can just do our bit. I like the sound of CAAT, SuttonJ, thanks for that.

Lucky girl, please look at supporting CAAT, Campaign against the Arms Trade. They are a great little charity and not very well known. Sometimes I feel they are a lone voice in a mad world, but for me, they are the best we have.

granny23 you are right to say that even little things, where ever we are, does help. my daughter in Berlin is very involved with syrian refugees and has even given a home to one who has shared their tiny flat for the last year. She works hard to raise money to help and has done a lot of very good things because although they are physically safe now they had to leave everything behind and have nothing.
In terms of charities, there are many, but one which I understand is reliable is MSF. They have always gone into very difficult areas and recently lost a number of their brave and committed volunteers.

It was Yemen
and heartbreaking, those poor little babies

All we can do is hope that money gets through in the form of aid.
Granny23 I have been supporting a small charity which takes no expenses, no salaries but the organisers are driving themselves so hard they are in danger becoming ill themselves.

There are some very good people helping out in the wider world, unfortunately some places are just no-go areas.

And more horror, this time it's Nigeria. Millions are starving, the UN estimate that 14 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
This isn't a famine, it's man made. It's to to with Boko Haram and the Nigerian army.

An alternative is to help the refugee families who are now in our midst. Today, a member of our local refugee support group brough a family of Kurdish Syrian refugees into our Christmas pop-up shop to choose some warm clothes/toys etc. The family apparently all love jigsaw puzzles so the were happy to find many there. Biggest surprise, with much hilarious miming, was that the Mum was looking for, and found! a bikini as she has been introduced to the women-only swimming club.

I know it is only a drop in the ocean but helping the families who have been lucky? enough to come here is another answer to the need to DO SOMETHING.

It's good to be well informed, but there is sometimes too much of it! This leads to feelings of despondency and helplessness.Once you know that however, try and limit yourself to one lot of news per day (all this rolling news is ridiculous.)

luckygirl I'm exactly like you Re pre global information. I'm always saying to my OH " I wish I hadn't read that / seen that" of course he replies " well don't read it" And then I feel quilty if I don't because I feel that I should be informed of what's happening.
gillybob Your not alone in the comment Re the healthy looking adults.

i realised years ago that which ever charities I donate to I have to trust , if fifty pence of every pound doesn't reach those who need help I accept fifty pence does , better something than nothing . It's all I can do