The asylum seekers say the lack of food, clothes, sanitation, and the prevalence of mental and physical illness among the 94 asylum seekers living in a fenced camp on Diego Garcia have made life there unbearable. One of several core issues: giving funding directly to local groups. On paper at least, there’s much that local groups have long demanded: language on meaningful relationships instead of subcontracting, multi-year funding, recognising local skills, and supporting local leadership. International NGOs, meanwhile, worry that they bear all the burden – and the financial risk – of making the EU’s local aid vision a reality. Weekend readIs the UN about to open aid coordination offices, warehouses, or a monitoring mission in rebel-held northwest Syria?