Posted on 12/30/2004 2:56:11 PM PST by Alex Marko
The tragic loss of life from the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean now exceeds 100,000 and may eventually double that, due to disease, civil unrest, and other factors. In response, the United States and other nations have pledged millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance to aid the survivors and assist affected nations in recovering from the disaster. Unfortunately, some in the international aid business cannot seem to shake their reflexive criticism of America despite ample evidence of its generosity.
The U.S. government initially announced that it would provide $15 million in humanitarian aid and send experts to help affected nations recover. Jan Egeland, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, criticized the U.S. commitment as “stingy” despite the fact that the U.S. pledge far exceeded those of all European nations. He quickly apologized and said that he did not mean to single out the United States, but the transcript of his comments clearly identifies the U.S. as the primary target.
Rhetoric vs. Reality Mr. Egelund’s criticism was based on his belief that America is not providing enough development assistance—specifically, aid as a percentage of its gross national income (GNI). According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. is dead last in aid as a percent of GNI at 0.15 percent.[1] Mr. Egelund’s native country of Norway has a ratio of 0.92 percent. There are several problems with this approach:
Actual dollar contributions reveal that the U.S. is the world’s largest donor. The OECD calculates U.S. development assistance (based on bilateral assistance, humanitarian assistance, and contributions to multilateral institutions like the International Development Association of the World Bank) in 2003 at $16.2 billion—more than double the amount given by France, Germany, or any other European nation.[2] Japan is second at $8.9 billion.
Private aid is ignored. These numbers do not include private assistance. This is not a major factor for most other nations because private charity is not large in most countries. It is a gigantic oversight when calculating America’s aid ratio, however, because the U.S. Agency for International Development estimated that private assistance was $33.6 billion in 2000.[3] Therefore, the calculations upon which Egelund based his criticism severely shortchange the generosity of the United States.
It demonstrates an inappropriate focus on inputs rather than outputs. Development assistance should help recipients develop, but the evidence demonstrates that many recipient nations are actually becoming poorer. This is particularly true for sub-Saharan Africa, which is the region of the world most desperately in need of development. Despite hundreds of billions in development assistance, sub-Saharan Africa has performed dismally. Of the 45 sub-Saharan African countries for which per capita GDP data are available from 1980 to 2002, most experienced zero or negative compound annual growth in real per capita GDP (constant 1995 U.S. dollars).[4] Sub-Saharan Africa as a region saw a decline in per capita GDP from $660 in 1980 to $577 in 2002 (in constant terms).[5] Instead of focusing on the amount of assistance, donors should focus on maximizing results through economic freedom, bolstering the rule of law, and adopting strong institutions. Foreign aid cannot replace domestic will to adopt good policies, without which long-term development is impossible.
America’s central role in humanitarian efforts is ignored. Egelund’s criticism becomes patently ridiculous after an examination of U.S. assistance for disaster and humanitarian relief—the type of aid needed in the Indian Ocean. Data from the OECD reveal that the U.S. gave nearly $2.5 billion in emergency and distress relief in 2003.[6] All other countries combined gave $3.4 billion, including $475 million from France and $350 million from Norway. Moreover, the U.S. contributed nearly 70 percent of all food assistance.
America is a key donor to U.N. relief organizations. The United States is a major donor to international relief organizations, including the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which Egelund oversees, to which the U.S. is second largest donor (nearly 14 percent in 2003).[7] America is the largest contributor to the U.N. budget at 22 percent, or $317 million, in 2004. It gives over 56 percent of the World Food Program budget and $72 million and $94 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, respectively.[8] Conclusion
The United States is the world’s largest source of humanitarian aid. By nature, humanitarian aid must be tailored to individual crises: Every single famine, earthquake, flood, or other disaster is unique and requires different types of aid and different strategies. As death tolls climbed in the wake of the disaster in Southeast Asia and the needs of the survivors became clearer, the United States upped its humanitarian aid commitments to the region to $35 million, and expectations are that total U.S. contributions will continue to increase.
Criticisms of America’s generosity, such as those made by Egeland, fly in the face of reality. International aid experts do their organizations no credit to criticize American largess—especially since following through on their good intentions would be impossible without it.
The US and President Bush gets a bashing and Kofi continues on his skiing trip, he can multitask from where ever he is at he doesnt need to be at the UN to do his job, but the US had better be out in front
I was so ready to help financially and then that remark came out and I've had to force myself to give. Hopefully those who receive won't be as ungrateful. Because I may not be able to overcome my disgust the next disaster. He really put a damper on this.
Hopefully most that feel as you do still helped out financially. I'm disgusted myself and like you struggle to keep things in perspective.
I guess that's what they mean by demanding America keep its nose out of the world's business.
"America’s central role in humanitarian efforts is ignored"That is truth! person that write that America do not help persons do not know what that person write. Thank you
This smacks of new world order Lenninist communism: "From each according to his capabilities to each according to his needs".
Charity is one thing I do not equate to wealth redistribution.
As Churchill once said. "Up with this I will not put".
If, as the MSM is now bleating, as they quote critics vis: An opportunity for the USA to give and give and it will make the Muslims like us, I ask this. Then why is the present attitude of the "world community" ALREADY more kindly disposed? (Reference the late good old Gordon Sinclair).
Enough is enough.
Correction: Then why is the "world community" already NOT MORE kindly disposed. (Sorry).
The EU and UN are hell bent on the destruction of the US economy....They find ways to keep picking at it...Yes we should give to disaster relief, but not to be taxed more to please some European socialist.
Why??????????
Nobody does anything for us but criticize and then whine when they don't like what we put intheir hand when they put it out begging yet again.
The US gives, and gives, and gives, and despite all that we've done for the WORLD, people will still envy and hate us. It is a cold hard fact.
In support of Muslims, we spent hundreds of millions arming the Afgans so they could expell the Russians; we attempted to help in Somolia; we intervened in Rwanda;we waged war against the Serbs for them . . .
All who criticize us should factor in the amonut in blood, sweat, tears and time we invest in saving the less fortunate. Flying military planes all over the planet ain't cheap, and the families of those in the planes sacrifice time away from loved ones.
Giving in time of need is still the righteous thing to do -- just make sure you know where money going and how being spent : - ) Don't expect anything in return, but free more than free to voice outrage at the ingreats among us via this forum -- it is cathartic!
Happy New Year to All.
"person that write that America do not help persons do not know what that person write."
We care - we help.
Yeah, I want to know why too. The people of Indonesia danced in the streets in celebration of the horrible events of 9/11/01. All I can say is that we are much better than they are, for they celebrated when disaster struck us, and yet we lend a hand to help them. They want more? Have Kofi dole out some of the scammed oil for food $ - I say enough is enough.
All U.S. aid--both internal and external--should come from private or individual sources. The amount Americans privately give exceeds what other world governents contribute. We'd give even more if millions didn't have the notion that it's the government's job.
I am still outraged at the criticism of President Bush who didn't show his face for a photo-op and cry the crocodile tears.."I feel your pain".
The world's government leaders did not respect or admire Bill Clinton, they loved the fact that he was an embarrassment to the USA......Now that we have a President who takes his responsibilities seriously, the World looks to the UN for guidance on how to bash the USA.
If Kofi Annan and Egeland are the best diplomats the UN has to offer...the World is in desperate shape.
Thank you
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