Which assistance suits best during emergency time: ‘In-kind donations or cash?’
In line to promote our upcoming workshop starting on November 27 this month, we have decided to bring up a challenging question related to emergency food during disaster recovery:
‘Is it better to help disaster affected areas with ‘in-kind’ donations or with cash money?’
The question has recently sparked a few debates among researchers and humanitarians and deserves a serious amount of merit.
Some experts claim that ‘in-kind’ donations (food, drugs, medical equipment…) tend to cost more in terms of delivery and conservation. Delivery methods (aerial, terrestrial) cost a certain amount of money while the conservation methods of those donations present serious challenges such as using donation before they expire’.
According to the UNHCR and WFP, people experiencing disasters tend to prefer cash over ‘in-kind’ donations due to the amount of dignity it gives them. The theory advocating for cash donations builds its merit on the basis that recipients are offered better and independent ways to rebuild their lives instead of being restricted under humanitarian supervision.
What do you think?
‘Is it better to help disaster affected areas with ‘in-kind’ donations or with cash money?’
The question has recently sparked a few debates among researchers and humanitarians and deserves a serious amount of merit.
Some experts claim that ‘in-kind’ donations (food, drugs, medical equipment…) tend to cost more in terms of delivery and conservation. Delivery methods (aerial, terrestrial) cost a certain amount of money while the conservation methods of those donations present serious challenges such as using donation before they expire’.
According to the UNHCR and WFP, people experiencing disasters tend to prefer cash over ‘in-kind’ donations due to the amount of dignity it gives them. The theory advocating for cash donations builds its merit on the basis that recipients are offered better and independent ways to rebuild their lives instead of being restricted under humanitarian supervision.
What do you think?
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