BBC: Tsunami aid 'went to the richest'

[pdurod1]

Six months after the Asian tsunami, a leading international charity says the poorest victims have benefited the least from the massive relief effort.

A survey by Oxfam found that aid had tended to go to businesses and landowners, exacerbating the divide between rich and poor.

The poor were likely to spend much longer in refugee camps where it is harder to find work or rebuild lives.

edit: for URL

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4621365.stm

[OKNancy]

1. Please post a link for the story

Thank you

[OKNancy]

2. I googled - here is the link

Tsunami aid 'went to the richest'
Six months after the Asian tsunami, a leading international charity says the poorest victims have benefited the least from the massive relief effort.
A survey by Oxfam found that aid had tended to go to businesses and landowners, exacerbating the divide between rich and poor.

The poor were likely to spend much longer in refugee camps where it is harder to find work or rebuild lives.

Oxfam has called for aid to go to the poorest and most marginalised.

They must not be left out of reconstruction efforts, the charity said.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4621365.stm

[Catchawave]

3. I learned my lesson from 9-11.....

...when the Red Cross remodeled and updated their offices with 9-11 donation money.

This time I sent my support to direct action Doctors without Borders who were first responders to the tsunami victims. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a *thank you* along with a *please don't send any more money* we have enough now!

[MrPrax]

5. Doctors Without Borders...!

They're a class act.

Unfortunately, the cynics called this one early on--never expect a group of countries run by the military, dictators and civil wars to ever to distribute aid properly, regardless of whether they have a natural disaster.

Nor can anyone expect NGOs to do anything else but go along with the looting in order to safeguard their own credibility.

Good post...

[libodem]

4. of course

what else is new

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

6. TRICKLE DOWN AID-save the men first on the sinking ship-they'll come back

It's like saving the men first on the Titanic--they can come back for the women and children later.
Let's make sure the Hotels and Resorts are taken care of FIRST.
They'll help everyone else--(those who are still alive)

[VegasWolf]

11. TOO funny! Trickle down aid. Save the rich, a rising tide floats all

boats. and in this case; homes, elephants, etc.

[Deja Q]

7. Yup. Socialism = evil. Capitalism/Reaganism = good.

:sarcasm:

People can keep this system they're indoctrined into. Patents and all.

[Karla Marx]

8. Loooove your photo...

...good dog!

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jmm]

10. I've also read a number of corporate donations

have ended up being ploys just to get good press and tax write offs so much of the promised aid is actually items of no use in the relief effort like Viagra.

[Algorem]

12. Wonder if the Carlyle Group's in on it somehow.

[Darth_Kitten]

13. I'm not surprised....

:(

[Ripley]

14. Well, well, well Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush...

Did you help deliver the money to the country club set, or did you actually help the poor fishermen?

[earth mom]

16. That's what I've been wondering too...

funny how their so called "assistance" is barely mentioned these days....

[SoCalDem]

15. What a surpeise...not!

I saw a Unicef woman testify the other day, and "alarm bells" were ringing in my head.. She kept on saying that they "planned" to do this and that..and that a lot of the donations would go to "ongoing, but important work"..

It pisses me off that millions of people reached into their pockets to donate to THOSE PEOPLE WE SAW ON TV...the ones who lost their families and homes.. We did not donate so that an "ongoing program" could get a shot in the arm, or so that they could hire a few more higher-ups to help adminsiter the money..

Even of the poor ones had been goven cash to relocate, it would have been a plus.. To have them still "camping out" after 6 months is criminal..