Oxfam or Islamic Relief? Post a cheque or donate online? Anyone wanting to help meet the huge needs of Iraq and its citizens faces an almost bewildering choice of charities and appeals asking for support, as well as a variety of ways to give money or offer help.
More than any other crisis in recent decades, the Iraq war has seen controversy over its legitimacy, the responsibilities of governments, and the role of military forces.
In fact, the US and UK governments and military forces have clear legal duties to meet civilian needs, from food and water to shelter, health and security. Yet soldiers are poor providers of aid, and the country needs more efficient and effective relief efforts by many aid agencies.
And while companies and countries are lining up for a slice of the large scale reconstruction work, worth billions, rebuilding communities, including education and healthcare, small businesses and agriculture, will need to be tackled at community level to foster Iraqi-led solutions to decades of crisis, oppression and conflict.
Despite government grants worth millions, many charities have resisted taking money from belligerents or funds with conditions, therefore public donations are even more important to allow independent action to meet the greatest needs as they see them.
And charities do want money not goods, leaving the clothes and toys for their high street shops to sell. And few if any will need volunteers in such a tough working environment.
So how do you choose the right charity for your cash? As consumer experts would say: shop around, compare what they offer, and ask questions. Almost every aid agency has a website, and if you need more information, email or call them: the speed, content and quality of the responses may well help you decide.
Consider whether they are a big agency with a well-known name or smaller and more likely to value your gift. They may have a faith dimension, only respond to crises or have a wider role.
It is important to choose a charity that can use your money well because it knows Iraq, has a good track record in similar crises or performs specialist tasks others cannot. A few agencies were already operating in Iraq before the war; many more are waiting for security clearance.
Care International is working in both water supply and healthcare from Baghdad under its British-born director, Margaret Hassan, who has spent 30 years in the country and is staying there throughout the conflict to back up her 30 Iraqi staff.
Also still in Baghdad is a six-person emergency expatriate team from Médecins Sans Frontières, and six international delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who are working alongside the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.
Via its international partner Caritas, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod), is supporting health clinics in Baghdad.
Save the Children UK has had major community programmes for years in the Kurdish northern Iraq, as has Christian Aid, and the Japanese agency Peace Winds, which is backed by UK charity Aid International.
Many of the main UN agencies are working hard in or around Iraq, and these can either be funded directly – some have credit card donation forms on their websites – or via UK charities, including child-focused Unicef UK, the World Food Programme, and the UN High Commission for Refugees.
Among those ready to work in Iraq or deal with refugees are Ockenden International, Médecins du Monde UK, and the national societies that make up the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
With the internet and a credit card, supporting these charities is easy, from Australia’s Muslim Aid to France’s Action Contre la Faim, or the 40 NGOs – from Adventist Development to World Relief – listed by the US aid network, InterAction as accepting Iraq donations.
Many of the charities appealing for Iraq donations can be found through the two major charity portals, GiveNow.Org and Justgiving.com.
While many have started their own appeals, 14 UK charities, including Concern, Merlin, Tearfund and World Vision – are expected to launch a joint appeal for Iraq through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) once agencies have access and needs are clearer. One important advantage of supporting a DEC appeal is that it follows up the funds raised with a publicly available evaluation on how the was money spent.
Human rights groups are also keen to receive Iraq donations. For example Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are monitoring the conduct of the war, preparing to investigate past atrocities, and considering how rights and justice can best be assured in the future.
Charities that support past and present service personnel and their families have established the UK Forces Gulf Fund to deal with the impact of the Iraq campaign.
It’s also worth deciding whether you want to make a one-off donation or a regular payment, and considering if you want to raise funds from or with others.
Paperwork and processing make one-off cheques and cash costly; far better is a regular commitment online by credit or debit card, which also usually automates the other essential for a UK taxpayer: claiming Gift Aid so Chancellor Brown adds another 28% to help. – Guardian Unlimited Â