World Vision Response to the Daily Telegraph

World Vision UK deplores the irresponsible and misleading journalism employed by The Telegraph in their article today (5th October 2013): Charity millions ‘going to terror groups’.


We would like to reassure the many supporters responding to our Syria Crisis Appeal of the transparent and thorough management of all our funding. We work to ensure money entrusted to us makes the biggest possible impact to the lives of vulnerable children and their families.

World Vision, along with the other members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), employs dozens of staff on the ground in Syria and the surrounding countries, who administer extremely robust control measures to ensure that no money falls into the wrong hands. All staff and suppliers are checked against lists of organisations proscribed by the UK and US governments.



Justin Byworth, the chief executive of World Vision UK, said: “The real headline story today should be the needs of the well over three million Syrian children forced to flee their homes, having suffered unimaginable terror and hardship.

“I have just returned from Lebanon and heard countless stories of tragic loss first hand from many Syrian refugee families.  I also saw clearly why the British public is right to trust World Vision and other DEC members to deliver humanitarian assistance in the midst of this need. In the Lebanese Bekaa valley alone World Vision has reached 140,000 refugees with food, water, blankets and other essentials.  

"World Vision also employs trained counsellors to help children overcome the terrible events they have witnessed, I met one who told me of a 5-year-old girl who couldn't speak until weeks of art and play therapy with other children in one of the 'child friendly spaces' World Vision supports. 


“The human cost of the crisis continues to grow by thousands every day and, sadly, despite a strong international response, the needs continue to outstrip the resources we are able to provide

“That is why I am very disappointed that the Telegraph has decided to mislead the public about the destination of their donations at a time when more funds are so desperately needed.”



We are already providing over £2 million of assistance in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan with funds from our supporters, the public (through DEC) and UK government.

We would like to thank our many generous supporters who have donated to our appeal enabling us to continue our support in the region.