Dear Sir,
Thank you for your comments. We take your concerns very seriously.
However, as you can see from below excerpts from the White house and transcripts from subsequent interview with Fox, Mr Egeland’s comments were misrepresented.
We Hope that this helps to clarify the matter.
White House Spokesman's Reaction to the "stingy" comment
QUESTION: Was the president as upset as Colin Powell was about U.N. humanitarian official saying that some rich nations are being stingy with aid?
DUFFY: Well, I'd encourage you to look at his remarks, his recent remarks. I think he's said as much that he's been misquoted and sort of misinterpreted.
As I said, the United States is the single largest contributor to international aid in the world. We outmatch the contributions of other nations combined, we'll continue to do so.
So I would encourage you to look at his remarks and maybe contact his office, because I think some of those were taken out of context.
Transcript of JE on fox news today at 1:30
Rick (Fox) a u.n. official says that's not going to be enough. we can understand that. a country as rich as the u.s. could afford to give away a little bit more money, you would think. with us now, we have the undersecretary of humanitarian affairs for the united nations, his name is jan eggland. thank you for being with us. what do you think? you just heard trent duffy down there, spokesperson basically for the white house. what do you think of his comments? >>
JE: well, i agree with every word. the united states is a very generous donor to our disaster relief operations in the -- in helping the tsunami victims in southeast asia. there is a very generous outflow now from the united states in addition to the initial $15 million, we've heard of $20 million coming from usaid, the u.s. air force, many number of organizations are helping. we see the same response in europe, within asia and elsewhere. it will be, i think, perhaps the biggest relief operation of its kind ever.
Rick so you are getting a good response. i mean, are you satisfied as of right now from the wealthiest countries of the world? >>
JE: in this emergency phase, yes, i'm very satisfied. i have commented on earlier occasions on the general trend from rich countries in the world to give less of their riches to development assistance, to general assistance to the poorest nations, and here it is my job to be dissatisfied, i always want donors and more donors to give, because i see refugees starving, i see children not getting medical help because we have too little funds, in the u.n., in the red cross, in organizations.
RICK: when people watch at home and hear you say that, and they're not rich countries, but they have a little money to give out of their individual pockets, where should they send it? to red cross and owings like that or could the u.n. use some of that? >>
JE: well, the united nations has excellent operations as we speak in southeast asia, unicef, world food program, world health organization, but it's equally good to give through the red cross, through the nongovernmental organizations of which there are so many excellent ones in the united states that are so close partners to us in the united nations in the field.
Rick: you know, i'm sure there are people sitting behind me here and at home watching saying, please, god, make sure this money gets into the hands of the right people, the people that need it. how do we, please, make sure this doesn't turn into a corruption story? >>
JE: yeah, and i understand people are afraid of that, and there have been too many bad examples in the past, but i've been working in international relief human rights and relief work since i was 25 years old. the work has been never -- has never been more monitored, there's never been more quality control, it's never been more effective. for $1 a day, we can feed a child, for less than a dollar, we can immunize a child. it is perhaps the most effective use of money anywhere in the world given what we get in return.
Rick: bring let you go, talk about immunization. i know the u.n. put out a statement about a half-hour ago and said the disease problem may be worse than the tsunami itself, may kill more people in the long run. what are you hearing about that?
JE: now that's exactly what i and others have been saying since it all started in -- on sunday, that there are two waves of destruction. the first is the wall of water, the tidal wave itself, and it has taken tens of thousands of lives but many more could now die because of infected drinking water. it's all polluted, sanitation systems are down. children drink sewage virtually, and that will lead to -- to disease and death. so the relief effort is now concentrating on giving that kind of assistance. rick: speaking of relief effort, please keep us updated on this. we'll check back in with you. >>
JE: thank you for having me.
Just glancing through the response... Why in the wide wide world of sports should anyone care what JE thinks. This creep needs to resign and let an adult take over.
ok... reading on.
I don't much care for his remarks, but yours were wonderful!
Way to go, FReeperWoman!
Well, I am jealous. I have not yet heard from Mr. E, altho I did suggest in my email that he contact: Mrs. Arafat, who makes $100,000 a MONTH; Saddam's cronies, he is reputed to have $1 BILLION; Kofi and Son, who could tithe off their 'skim;' etc. And that I would like to see an accounting, after this is all over, of country-by-country donations, INCLUDING private relief organizations, by country. Did you send it to ochany@un.org? or his personal email???
Way to go!
Good for you! And what you said was SPOT ON.
We are very generous and we'll give to the agencies providing the aid directly.
Nice going, Howlin. We need to make these freaks of nature accountable for their fightin' words against the US.
I, for one, am tired of the bashing we take.
I am so proud to be a Freeper along with you. You have done us proud.
You go, Girl!
You rock...Howln, a keyboard, and an ISP are an awesome combination..why don't you try and destabilize Iran in your spare time...FYI..John GIbson on the O'Reilly factor will be covering this very topic.in a few minutes..and we KNOW he DON'T like the UN
good work howlin!
hi sir!
The UN is trying to put the Red Cross and Salvation Army out of the "business" of humanitarian aid. They consider them competitors.
Scum sucking cretins.
Dear friend Howlin, Sir,
I must say I'm shocked to learn that you are a sir because I have always known you to be the opposite.
Fantastic email, Howlin. You said all that needed to be said. Great job! Thanks.
Perhaps Jan should have the UN cough up the money they've stolen for the Oil for Food Program. I'm sure that would totally offset all the moneys needed to help these folks who have been so devastated. God bless their souls.
You shoot, you score!
We need to hold these international beaurocrat's feet to the fire. Stingy MY ASS.
Nice cage-rattling!
One Norwegian calls us stingy, another one gives Carter a Nobel Peace price and justifies his feat with the notion that he wanted to kick George Bush on the shin.
No wondering required.