Wrong if charities suffer over Oxfam

As someone who has directed humanitarian operations in various parts of the world with the UN, international Red Cross and NGOs, I’m very concerned by the draconian response to the Oxfam situation.

Of course, the allegations are serious and Oxfam and others have failed in staff recruitment, monitoring and reporting. However, in any operation abroad almost all staff are honest, responsible, dedicated people providing highly effective services to those most in need. Often they will risk their lives doing so.

Only a few will be a problem, yet our response is to slash funding, and punish all. By so doing, essential relief will be reduced or cancelled, and tens of thousands in the most difficult parts of the world will suffer.

Michael Stone Moretonhampstead, Devon

In the light of the Oxfam sex scandal, it’s understandable that many people are cancelling their direct debits that fund this charity, but these wrong-doers are just a fraction of the staff working overseas who work in chaotic circumstances. Oxfam cannot be expected to be able to exert the same control as an office manager. By cancelling donations, we risk stopping all the work that Oxfam does and hurting all the people they help. We should carry on supporting them. D A Shaw Tamworth, Staffs Surely, Brendan Cox has suffered enough? He has apologised for his behaviour and taken the appropriate action. His name shouldn’t be dragged through the mud further.

Charity workers, like politicians, are human beings, not saints. This crisis must not be allowed to overshadow the amazing work these charities do.

David Ball, North London

We must not throw the baby out with the bathwater over the Oxfam situation. Sure, there is a management and systems failure, but the situation is repairable. Just because a few bad apples let the side down doesn’t mean the whole organisation is corrupt. Since its foundation in 1942 Oxfam and its many thousands of volunteers over the years has saved possibly millions of lives, and continues to do so. To deny the organisation the £30million UK government aid would be wrong, and that would only be to satisfy those who are baying for blood.

John Fair Castlebar, Co Mayo

My mother collects for Leukaemia Research and has done so for years and I would hate to think all charities have problems just because of the Oxfam situation.

Most charities are honest, including Oxfam, so please don’t stop giving to them.

Frank Keys, Wilbarston, Northants Eddie Fidler, Oxford

Is the 21st century going to go down in history as a time of immorality? We’ve had the child grooming scandals and, worst of all, people of power in entertainment, politics and now in charitable organisations, abusing their positions. It makes me ashamed. With regards to Brendan Cox, clearly this is a very difficult situation and I feel very sad that this has happened. However, there is still some very important work to be done in Jo Cox’s name. Sarah Osborne, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire