Philippines

Post-natural disaster, health, nutrition, water, and shelter are big worries for a nation such as the Philippines after Super Typhoon Haiyman. Charities are a good way of helping the relief effort because they are well organized and generally large or international. They are able to operate much more quickly and effectively than smaller grassroots organizations. UNICEF United States Fund is an example of such highly effective charities. Based on the amount of money that brings in, over 90% goes directly the programs or services it delivers. A mere 2% goes to administrative fees. It is also has a high level of transparency of its policies, board members, and programs. The Red Cross, another large scale charity, is not nearly as efficient. While it does put a large amount to programs and small to administration, the Red Cross primary expenses and revenue has been decreasing.


The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has many areas of interest, one of which is water, sanitation, and hygiene. Once the Philippines is back on its feet, it will most likely be forgotten, or at least leave the foreground of the public's attention. This is a critical time for the future of the country. One of the BMG Foundation's projects is clean, water less, hygienic toilets. Several working prototypes have been made and been successful. The use of such innovations would allow for water to be used for other purposes and improve hygiene in the long term. It is not just the immediate future that needs attention in areas of natural disaster, it is the long term as well.