Red Cross Massive decline in donations

Despite Ebola and refugee wave: massive decline in donations

21/12/2014

Every day we hear of the Ebola epidemic and the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war and hunger. But the Red Cross sounds the alarm: „There is a significant decrease in donations“.

According to the organization, the „Revenue almost halved compared to the previous year“. The head of the DRK Rudolf Seiters told the newspaper „World on Sunday“: „In 2013, the donations received by the Red Cross amounted to 64.7 million euros. This year, we will be well below this with around 30 to 35 million euros.“

Only half the donations
Seiters was very disappointed with the donations for the management of the Ebola epidemic. Just 1.2 million euros could be collected from private donors. Seiters suspects that the reason should be sought in the media coverage. Few journalists would dare to report to the region and report from there. In addition, people would wear protective clothing. „That does not give touching pictures. And if people are not touched emotionally, they don't donate either“, stressed Seiters.

Little emotional pictures prevent donations
Another cause could also be that some major disasters were produced by humans themselves. „It turns out that people donate less to civil war regions than to people in need due to natural disasters“.

Especially for the fight against Ebola further donations are needed. But „if people are not emotionally touched then they will not donate“. For some time, many volunteers from Germany are working against Ebola. They record initial successes, but an all-clear can not be given, according to Ebola agents. "Donations are urgently needed," warn relief organizations. (Sb)

Picture: Katharina Wieland Müller