Controlling Humanitarian Work

Posted on 28 April 2010.

In February, the BBC reported that, "Notices attacking Oxfam Hong Kong as an organisation trying to infiltrate China have appeared on the websites of several universities in mainland China.

They appear to have been put there by China's Ministry of Education. One of the notices called the development agency an illegal organisation with ulterior motives."

It seemed that the Chinese Ministry of Education was telling students not to get involved in a training programme organised by Oxfam. As part of its poverty alleviation policy, Oxfam had been training young graduates to become programme officers for non-governmental organisations in China and had previously had no problems of this kind. Shortly after these notices appeared, Oxfam suspended the training programme.

Chinese rights activists expressed alarm at this development. They commented that, "Oxfam is seen... as a very moderate - even over cautious agency - in its dealings with mainland authorities" (BBC).

Other charities with foreign involvement have also reported facing difficulties in securing visas for their staff and in continuing their work inside China. There are suggestions that the Chinese authorities are seeking to have greater control over humanitarian work in the country.

Oxfam declared, "We've been doing it without any problems for four years, and with no indication from the government that there was any problem or it was in any way not suitable or sensitive in their eyes. And then suddenly we get this posting on the web telling the universities to back off and have nothing to do with us in regard to this programme" (BBC).

Pray for wisdom for organisations seeking to alleviate poverty and to improve life for the needy in China. May they be able to continue the vital work that they do.

Remember particularly Christian charitable organisations that seek to make a difference both physically and spiritually. Pray for the Lord's protection on them.

Pray for the provision of visas for those who are involved in humanitarian work. May the Chinese authorities recognise the real positive difference that these people are making.