Palestine Children's Relief Fund

The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (P.C.R.F.) 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." [http://www.pcrf.net/who/who.html PCRF: Who We Are] (Accessed April 13, 2006)]

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.

The PCRF, along with the British Arts Council, co-produced the 2006 22-minute documentary "Open Heart" by Claire Fowler about healthcare in the Palestinian areas. 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. [ [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6421.htm PCRF information] at Charity Navigator] It has received support and endorsements from Senator Paul Sarbanes, [ [http://www.pcrf.net/images/senate.jpgCommendation letter by Senator Paul Sarbanes dated May 23, 2003] ] Congressman Albert Wynn and actor/humanitarian Richard Gere.cite web | url = http://www.pcrf.net/RichardGere.html | title = Message from Richard Gere To the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund | work = Palestine Children's Relief Fund | accessdate = 2008-02-28 ] [cite news | url = http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=488 | title = The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund Gala | first = Susan | last = Schwartz | work = Muslim Observer | date = 2006-11-09 | accessdate = 2008-02-28 ]

In October 2006, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter issued a video endorsement of the organization. [ [http://www.pcrf.net/first.html Jimmy Carter's endorsement] ]

Criticism

The PCRF has been criticized in the past due to its financial affiliation with the Holy Land Foundation, which was shut down by the United States government because it was suspected of funneling donations to terrorist organizations.cite news |first = Stephanie | last = Strom | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E5DF143BF936A25757C0A9629C8B63 | title = Charity Seeks To Transfer Money Frozen By Treasury | work = The New York Times | date = 2004-04-15 | accessdate = 2008-02-20] The PCRF's connection to the Foundation has since harmed its reputation. [cite news | url = http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1145961251253 | title = The Limits of Sympathy | work = Jerusalem Post | date = 2006-04-30 ] [cite news | url = http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/3141/ | title = Palestinian Legislator to Appeal for Support | work = Jewish Exponent | date = 2006-04-27 ] The Holy Land Foundation asked that the United States Treasury Department allow a transfer of $50,000 from its accounts to the PCRF.

In the 2004 NBC film "Homeland Security", a professor with suspected links to Al Qaeda remarks that the "P.C.R.F. is a front for Islamic Jihad." Steve Sosebee, the charity's president and chief executive, responded to questions from the "New York Times" about how money donated to his organization was being spent by saying that he doesn't "have any politics or any political agenda, so [he] shouldn't have to feel guilty about anything."

References

ee also

* List of Palestine solidarity organizations

External links

* [http://www.pcrf.net/ Palestine Children's Relief Fund]
* [http://www.pcrf.net/images/Value.pdf PCRF's Financial Value Report]
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/05/07/MNG4UIMV7C1.DTL SF Chronicle piece on the impact sanctions have for U.S. Physicians who provide medical treatment through PCRF]