Paying the Price Report from Oxfam highlights the faliure fo rich countries

6.00.00pm GMT Mon 6th Dec 2004

Oxfam have today released a new report 'Paying the Price', it reveals that 45 million more children will die needlessly by 2015, because rich countries are failing to provide the necessary resources to overcome poverty. It finds that rich countries' aid budgets are half what they were in 1960 and poor countries are paying back a staggering $100 million a day in debt repayments.

It is ridiculous that as the 'rich' countries are actually giving less as a proportion of the GNP year on year. A pledge was made by 'rich' countries in 1970 to increase levels of overseas aid to 0.7%, over thirty years later this pledge is no where near being met. The UK only gives 0.34% and aims to reach 0.7% by 2013 - this is not nearly fast enough. The USA spends just 0.14% on international aid!

We have heard plenty from Tony Blair and Gordon Brown about improving international aid, but it is time to put our money where their mouth is and not just double international aid, but triple it to 1% of GNP if they want to show other countries what they should be doing. The UK currently spends £3billion on International aid another £6billion would be a fraction of Government spending but would undoubtedly save countless lives in the developing world.