Erstellt am: 19. 12. 2014 - 18:01 Uhr

Being Human(itarian)

The final Reality Check Special of the year focusses on humanitarian aid.

It's nearly Christmas. A time of year when charities hope to benefit from the giving spirit in the form of donations for their causes, and many of us feel moved to try to help the less fortunate. The ORF is running its annual Licht ins Dunkel campaign to raise money for people with disabilities. A remake of the record-breaking 1984 Band Aid song "Do They Know It's Christmas" (as well as a German version) has been released, and has topped the charts in a number of countries in Europe.

EPA/Helmut Fohringer

Senegal: a malnourished child at a feeding station during a visit by Caritas.

The purpose of that song, written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was to raise money to help provide famine relief for people in Ethiopia. The current version is focussed on the Ebola crisis. In its various forms, the track has been criticised as being condescending towards Africa, but it nevertheless highlights the human urge to help people who are suffering.

EPA/Rapanis Stefanos

There are 188 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies within the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

At the end of a year with no shortage of crises and conflicts, Reality Check decided it would be fitting to shine a light on how this works. What is the history of humanitarian aid? How do humanitarian aid organisations operate? Where does our money go and what about donations from the State? How helpful are celebrity campaigners? And how do you know when the humanitarian help has finished its work?

You can hear the programme at 12 noon on Saturday and after that via the Reality Check podcast or at fm4.ORF.at/7tage.