Palestine Children's Relief Fund
The Palestine Children's Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) non-governmental organization established in 1991, by, according to its website, "concerned people in the U.S. to address the medical and humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian youths in the Middle East... The main objective of the P.C.R.F. is to locate in the U.S. free medical care for children who cannot be adequately treated in the Middle East. The P.C.R.F. is the main organization regularly sending injured and sick Arab children to the U.S. and Europe for free care that is not available to them there. Since 1991 over 450 children have been or currently are being treated outside of the Middle East through the P.C.R.F."[1]
Humanitarian activities
The Palestine Children's Relief Fund sends medical equipment, supplies, and American medical personnel to the region to treat difficult cases and train Palestinian surgeons. Several injured or sick children are being treated in the U.S. for free. Palestine Children's Relief Fund relies on volunteers throughout the U.S. who act as host families and donors. The organization also helps suffering children from other Middle Eastern nations, based on medical need.
In 2006 a film was made about the work of the PCRF in the west Bank by Claire Fowler (Filmmaker). It has subsequently been shown at Film Festivals around the world.
Praise
For the past three years, the PCRF has received the highest rating (4-stars) by Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities' fiscal management.[2] It has received support and endorsements from Senator Paul Sarbanes,[3] Congressman Albert Wynn and actor/humanitarian Richard Gere.[4]
In October 2006, U.S. former President Jimmy Carter issued a video endorsement of the organization.[5]
Criticism
The organization purports itself to be non-political.[1] According to NGO Monitor:
- The PCRF is headed by Stephen ("Steve") Sosebee who speaks extensively at universities and other political "solidarity meetings" where he expounds on classic antisemitic and anti-Israel statements.[6]
- The PCRF received assistance from Global Relief Foundation and the International Islamic Relief Organization, which were closed down by the U.S. government for funding terrorist groups.[7]
References
- ^ a b PCRF: Who We Are (Accessed April 13, 2006)
- ^ PCRF information at Charity Navigator
- ^ [http://www.pcrf.net/images/senate.jpg Commendation letter by Senator Paul Sarbanes dated May 23, 2003
- ^ Message from Richard Gere to the PCRF
- ^ Jimmy Carter's endorsement
- ^ Scholars for Peace in the Middle East letter to the Senate Executive Committee, May 20, 2007.
- ^ Politics or Altruism: An Analysis of Palestinian Children's NGO's (NGO Monitor Analysis (Vol. 2 No. 5) 15 January 2004)
