Aid organizations find it difficult to transfer money due to anti-terrorism rules

Aid organizations are subject to strict rules that must, among other things, combat terrorist financing. Together with Human Security Collective, WO=MEN conducted research into the problem in 2019, which was already an issue at the time. Then we found that more than 70% of the respondents regularly encounter banking problems. For example, there are transactions that arrive late or not, or a continuous stream of administrative questions. Accounts are even frozen, or may not be opened.

 

Since then, little has improved, especially for small organizations, according to a tour of the NOS. Banks refer to the Dutch regulator, which refers to national and international guidelines. For emergency relief and other critical work such as peace and human rights work to continue, NGOs and banks need to get out of this impasse.