More Red Cross diggs
>October 29, 2014
>"Worse than the storm": Inside a secret Red Cross disaster
IN 2012, TWO MASSIVE STORMS pounded the United States, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless, hungry or without power for days and weeks.
Americans did what they so often do after disasters. They sent hundreds of millions of dollars to the Red Cross, confident their money would ease the suffering left behind by Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Isaac. They believed the charity was up to the job.
They were wrong.
The Red Cross botched key elements of its mission after Sandy and Isaac, leaving behind a trail of unmet needs and acrimony, according to an investigation by ProPublica and NPR. The charity’s shortcomings were detailed in confidential reports and internal emails, as well as accounts from current and former disaster relief specialists.
What’s more, Red Cross officials at national headquarters in Washington, D.C. compounded the charity’s inability to provide relief by “diverting assets for public relations purposes,” as one internal report puts it. Distribution of relief supplies, the report said, was “politically driven.”
After both storms, the charity’s problems left some victims in dire circumstances or vulnerable to harm, the organization’s internal assessments acknowledge. Handicapped victims “slept in their wheelchairs for days” because the charity had not secured proper cots. In one shelter, sex offenders were “all over including playing in children’s area” because Red Cross staff “didn’t know/follow procedures.”
https://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disaster
>How Red Cross Issues Hurt Others Who Help
>06/08/2015
When the news of the Red Cross’ alleged misuse of funds for Haiti came to light, I felt sick to my stomach. I had given to this fund … numerous times, as a matter of fact. Like many, I wanted to be part of the solution that helped rebuild a community and make sure that these families had their most basic needs met — food, clean water, clothing and somewhere to live. Surely the $500 million in donations to the Red Cross for Haiti relief could make a great impact for these people.
Well, as it turns out, that $500 million built exactly six homes.
The problems stand in stark contrast to the Red Cross’ standing in the realm of disaster relief. President Obama, who is the charity’s honorary chairman, vouched for the group after Sandy, telling Americans to donate. “The Red Cross knows what they’re doing,” he said.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-red-cross-issues-hurt_b_7526656?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmN
>American Red Cross Controversy: Where do Donations go?
>Thu, Aug 31 2017
The charity organization is under fire after an executive could not say how much of the total funds collected for Texans after Harvey would go to actual relief efforts like food, shelter and water.
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/long-story-short/video/american-red-cross-controversy-where-do-donations-go-1037065283717