This letter was received in response to Points to Consider posted 4 October as [him] 492.

[him] moderator

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As one of the two officials from international NGOs (perhaps being) referred to in the recent anonymous posting (him 492), I'd like to make the following quick response: I agree with much of your analysis, and the standards you set for humanitarian assistance, but I disagree strongly with your prescription.
 
I agree completely that aid agencies "must implement their projects and deliver aid in [an] accountable and transparent manner". This is absolutely essential. As a step in that direction, I invite the anonymous poster to come and see Save the Children's work, and determine if our activities measure up in terms of accountability and transparency (you're invited to send a representative if you can't come yourself).
 
I respectfully disagree that "increased humanitarian assistance to Burma under these circumstances may not be a good idea and can be counter-productive to current struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma".
Regardless of the political outcome of this crisis, people in this country are suffering now - and many international aid agencies have demonstrated consistently over the last 10 years that they can meet international standards of accountability and transparency. Now is the time to enable them to do more.
 
While the fears you express about a tightening of restrictions on aid agencies may, indeed, be realized, it is far too early to predict this with certainty. Let us see what happens in the coming months. In the mean time, let's find more constructive ways to "take appropriate actions to support the people."
 
Andrew Kirkwood
Country Director
Save the Children