Let me give you my reasons why. When aid is of a humanitarian nature. I believe it can best be distributed by humanitarian agencies. such as the International Operations Group of the International Committee of the Red Cross. the Catholic Relief Services. the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. the World Council of Churches. the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. or the International Rescue Committee. The advantages of doing this are fourfold: First. it removes the curse of connecting it with politicomilitary objectives which is usually the case with bilateral aid. Second. it means that the various voluntary agencies with their large constituencies in the United States give the American people a chance for direct involvement in the extension of these humanitarian efforts. Third. as a nation built on the premise of private enterprise. it would seem more appropriate to let private voluntary agencies do this rather than government bureaucrats. Finally. by doing it in this way. one has more assurance that the aid will not go to enrich various middle men. as sometimes is the case if it is done through official bilateral governmental channels. When the voluntary agencies are concerned. whatever Government input is necessary can be done through the small Office of Refugee and Migration Affairs at the State Department. with the actual overseas distribution then made by the various voluntary agencies involved. The voluntary agencies have local representatives on the spot. and they are in a position to take on other local nationals to help them with the distribution task. I realize. of course. that international organizations. such as the United Nations. can also be helpful and meet needs that perhaps the voluntary agencies cannot under all circumstances.
Keywords matched
Refugees Refugee