“SHOCKED and dismayed,” I quote the reaction of the administrators of Oxfam responding to the reports of sexual abuse and the use of prostitutes by trusted officials and charity workers. 

However, should we or they be surprised that these modes of behaviour are any different to that of society generally.

NGOs and other charitable organisations; including their workers and charges; are communities in their own right that will attract the same demographic component as with all societies so why would such revelations be that shocking to anyone?

Why it has galvanised the politicians and the headline writers is because it is our donations to the tune of 0.7% of GDP that support this industry; and that’s exactly what it is, an industry.

These revelations will do nothing to allay the public perception that the enormous sums of money provided for overseas aid are not being used for the purpose they were intended, with the result that funding to aid charities will decline in the light of these scandals.

The present aid and development budget stands at £13 billion per cycle, that equates to almost £600 per household from the British taxpayer.

A small proportion of that sum would eradicate the necessity for food banks and improve social care.

Makes you think, doesn’t it!

Malcolm M Richards
Aberthaw Road
Alway 
Newport