Comments on: Shoddy Deals for Darfur

By: Rob Crilly

Rob Crilly — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:07:13 +0000

There’s no doubt that Khartoum is responsible, in one way or another, for the conditions that have led to the three kidnappings in the past four months. The bandits or militias responsible will have felt foreign aid workers are legitimate targets given the way the government has smeared or expelled the INGOs.

By: Darfur NGO worker

Darfur NGO worker — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:47:57 +0000

Yes Rob, Oxfam America is returning and have already started the process of taking over their UK counterpart’s operations albeit discreetly as they are still not officially registered, which process will probably not be finalized before early next year thanks to Sudanese bureaucracy.
Of interest is the the securiy apparatus of the GoS also firmly believes that the security situation has improved tremendously (even in light of the recent spate of kidnappings) and that any reports to the contrary are lies perpetrated by the INGOs to maintain financing of their operations…

By: Rob Crilly

Rob Crilly — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:47:01 +0000

This is the one topic I get more grief on than anything else. Now getting hassle by people from certain unnamed NGOs that I’m being too soft on Oxfam, which is quietly transferring projects from Oxfam GB (expelled) to Oxfam US (not expelled). Anyone care to let me know whether this is true? Anyway, I do know that Oxfam HQ is desperately keen to return

By: Diane Bennett

Diane Bennett — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:07:40 +0000

Nothing bothers me more than that millions of dollars are unaccounted for. There may be a ‘humanitarian imperative,’ but what about our taxpayer dollars that support the effort? There should be accountability for where those funds go, regardless of virtue of the projects.

By: Sterling

Sterling — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:52:41 +0000

Aid, development, NPOs and NGOs are just so incestuous. But I have a question: What would you expect or want them to do with the money if they didn’t return to Darfur?

By: Andrea Bohnstedt

Andrea Bohnstedt — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Aid is a business, for both government donor organisations or NGOs. No crisis – no money, no jobs. No poverty – no money, no jobs. That fundamental dynamic is always at play.