By Christian Toto
10/14/2005

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Below is an excerpt of an article from the Washington Times.

Saturday's devastating earthquake in Kashmir is just the latest reason why the world needs Refugees International (RI) more than ever.

Key players assembled Tuesday at the Kennedy Center's Roof Terrace Restaurant for the advocacy group's second annual awards dinner, although high spirits took a back seat to the latest headlines. The recent disaster brought the number of global refugees to roughly 33 million, of whom 2 million were displaced by the earthquake.

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Supporters carried on despite the tragedy, honoring former United Nations Ambassadors John C. Danforth and Richard C. Holbrooke for their peacemaking efforts in southern Sudan and the Balkans, respectively. Also honored were actor Sam Waterston, RI's longest-serving board member..

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RI, it will be noted, serves as a strictly independent advocacy group for refugees, illuminating their plight and coaxing governments to offer any and all possible aid.
The dinner, which raised $250,000 of no-strings-attached funding for the organization's coffers, attracted about 250 supporters..
 
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RI President Kenneth Bacon said his group's ban on accepting government funds lets it operate without fear of reprisal.
    "We speak out on issues [when] other groups can't," Mr. Bacon said. "They're afraid of biting the hand that feeds them."