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This paper contains a systematic exploration of local and national archives and sources relevant to charities and humanitarian fund appeals of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras (1870-1912) in Great Britain. It shows that the charitable world and humanitarian work share the same matrix and originate from the same roots, with considerable overlap between fundraising for domestic charity and overseas relief. These campaigns engaged in crucial self-regulatory processes very early on that involved concepts such as formal accountability and the close monitoring of delivery. Far from lagging behind in terms of formal practices of auditing and accounts, charities and humanitarian funds often were in the pioneering group as compared with mainstream businesses of the period. The charitable sector, notably through the Charity Organisation Society in cooperation with the press, developed and delivered accountability and monitoring, while the state and the Charity Commission played a negligible role in this process., (© 2015 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2015.)

Puji Tang (Relief Houses) was established in 1706 with the function of helping the poor, comforting and compensating people by medicine, therefore, which was supported by the Emperors of the Qing Dynasty. As a representation of medical relief organization of the Qing Dynasty, Puji Tang was developed from a folk relief organization to a government national organization. Because of the declination of the Qing Empire and the problems within its own organization, Puji Tang changed finally to an organization of reeducation through labor in 1907.

The Unitanan Service Committee (USC) was one of a number of American Christian organizations which aided refugees, mostly Christians, during the Nazi period. Although modelled somewhat after the Quakers' American Friends Service Committee, the USC differed from this group in its opposition to neutrality and openly expressed support for the Allied cause Despite its late start (1940) in overseas work, the USC was very energetic and creative in aiding refugees. The Committee was also the only relief agency in Lisbon specializing in care for illegal refugees. This case study points to how much might have been accomplished had there been greater determination on the part of more people to aid the innocents endangered by the Nazis.