[Ross]

Many countries these days are in need of some sort of Aid. Usually its food or shelter, the population is dependent on the aid given to the countries and set up by organisations.

So my question is...

Is aid getting to places in need fast enough? Is it doing the job properly and efficiently? How can it be improved?

[Iceman]

I remember last year there was a documentary about this, they said that the aid gets to the places but not the more isolated parts and their the ones in need the most, but ususally never get it. I don't know how it could be improved really?

[Lauren]

Don't think there's enough funding to charities like the Red Cross, or not enough volunteers anyway.

The problem is; aid just isn't enough. It isn't sustainable. We give a country some food, then what? We keep on going into there and giving them it?

We need to give them something longterm, which can be difficult. I know of charities that provide people with cows, for dairy produce and then meat afterwards, but some conditions means the cows die anyway.

There's only so much we can help with.

[Ross]

Right, I know very little countries need aid nowadays. It is mainly villages in Africa that need aid (education, food, shelter etc) - I'm not sure how this could be improved but it's always saying "Africa in need of aid." yet, people give, give, give and it's still on the news a month later it's like what we're donating is not even helping.

One of the main problems for me is in places like South Africa because there is is domestic fighting, with militant camps that take villages hostage and stuff so obviously that will cause alot of problems.

Once governments focus on these local terroists that need the aid, but are still fighting with their own country... once they do this then it's one step closer to actually getting the aid to work.

[Iceman]

Yes, i agree with you about the Militant groups, you always hear that aid is trying to be given but the people trying to give it to them cant get it there because of the groups.

[Lauren]

I think Red Cross should focus their aid efforts on places like the Congo. The war there is atrocious and not only do they need food and shelter, but they also need medicinal help for the wounded. 6 million people have died there since 1998, as a result of the hidden war.

Other places should get more sustainable help like cows and crop help, rather than immediate shelter and food.

[Ross]

I know it's not as easy as "send them food and it's done" but my point is we're constantly giving and still nothing GOOD is coming out of it?

How much more can we give before we need aid ourselves?

[Iceman]

Yeah there has to be a cut off point in my opinion. If you give and give and nothing is changing then at least you know you've tried.

[andyman]

Only so much can be done.. The west have always played their part in this and will continue to do so, the problem is when aid falls into the wrong hands.

[arista]

Originally posted by andyman
Only so much can be done.. The west have always played their part in this and will continue to do so, the problem is when aid falls into the wrong hands.

It needs changing, updating
so less falls into the wrong hands.

[NettoSuperstar!]

Of course something good is coming out of it! without it loads of peoples lives would be so much worse or theyd be dead, unfortunately we cant help everyone and things wont improve to the point where we dont need to help until those countries are more developed...education, health, wealth etc. Those countries governments are corrupt but where you get deprivation and not enough resources to go round, there will be corruption and in fighting. Its a long hard road, no quick fix solutions.

charities have to account for where all the money goes and on what

And we're not just give give giving. Charities are trying to improve things so people can eventually help themselves.

[NettoSuperstar!]

...oh and it might help if they werent in so much debt to us

http://www.globalissues.org/issue/28...es-development