|
London:
Christian Aid Director Dr. Daleep Mukarji says the
government must do more to help charities that work in
developing countries during the present financial
crisis.
Speaking in the run-up to Christian Aid Week (May
10-16), one of the UK’s largest community fundraising
events, he revealed that the plunging value of the pound
had cost the charity around £15m.
‘We pay for offices, staff and partners abroad. The
collapse of the pound has cost us 25% of the value of
our money. Put simply, our purchasing power is about
£15m less than it was a year ago,’ said Dr. Mukarji.
‘This has had a serious impact on our partners and other
beneficiaries. We are grateful that the government has
not cut the aid budget, but I am sorry they are not
funding us to cover some of our costs.
‘In the recent budget the Chancellor announced he was
putting money into domestic charities, but international
charities seem to have been left out.’
Dr Mukarji described charities belonging to the British
Overseas Aid Group Christian Aid, ActionAid, CAFOD,
Oxfam and Save the Children, as international leaders in
the fields of humanitarian relief and long term
development.
‘ There is no other group of charities in any country
that is as well known and as well organised,’ he said.
‘The British public and the British government need to
recognise the role major development charities play in
influencing the international community on behalf of
poorer countries and poor people.
‘It is sad that while the government can find money to
help out the banks and some manufacturers, they can’t
find anything for us.
‘This recession is very real for our supporters and the
organisation itself. But its impact is particularly hard
hitting in developing countries where some 1.2bn people
were already living in poverty before it began. That
number is now growing. That is where need is greatest.’
Dr Mukarji said Christian Aid had been forced to cut
funding for a number of international projects and to
review its domestic activities, but he added that
alternative sources of finance were actively being
sought.
Dr Mukarji , who was awarded an 0BE earlier this year
for his lifelong work in international development, went
on to defend Christian Aid from claims that its
activities were ‘too political’.
‘We should not get involved in party politics but the
charity commissioner has accepted that it is legitimate
for charities to campaign and try to influence policy
and public debate. After all, poverty is not apolitical.
Social justice is not apolitical.’
|
