Here, Doctor Matt Smith gives his personal perspective on the interplay between charity, aid and development . This article was orginally published on 03/02/05.

Images of desperate human suffering, such as those we have witnessed after the Asian tsunami, make most of us want to give and to help. But wanting to help isn't always straightforward. How can we help? Is money what is needed? Who should we give to? How much of the money goes to those who really need help? Does the money we give make a difference anyway?

Some of our money already goes to help the poor since it is our taxes that pay for the government's overseas aid programmes. But the growth of development charities has also made it very easy for the public to make their own personal contributions. Many of these organisations are well-known household names who make the process of donating as simple as possible; you could donate online, organise a collection at school, set up monthly direct debits, sponsor a child, or perhaps even change your will to help after you're no longer around.

"It is essential the support continues once media interest wanes"

If we want to know where our money has gone, the organisations provide information on how much money goes to the projects rather than on administration, about the projects our money helps and how this has changed people's lives. The success of development charities has been built on their reputation for efficient spending of money, on their strong understanding of the needs of the poor and in their ability to act quickly. Although some believe that this is harder to achieve as the organisations grow in size, most development charities carry out their work in partnership with smaller organisations based on the ground in poorer countries. At the same time, governments also give large sums of money to development charities when they think they offer the most efficient and effective means of delivery. However, this can raise problems, particular in relation to charities' impartiality should they wish to challenge the government's aid policy.

Development charities' ability to act quickly is particularly important when help is needed after a disaster such as the Asian tsunami. Able to launch appeals, send staff and access emergency supplies very rapidly, development charities are almost always the key players in international emergency relief efforts.

But although images of disasters and tragedy may make us want to give, this doesn't mean this is the only time that the poor may need help. Donations in response to such emergencies are important, and may also make the giver feel good that they are doing something. You could argue that this doesn't matter, as long as the donation helps, but there is the problem that acting charitably can give a quick emotional fix, whereas what is needed is long-term commitment. As has been pointed out in relation to the Asian tsunami, the immediate donations are very important, but it is also essential that support continues after media interest wanes as, over the longer term, people start to rebuild their lives.

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