UK: Britain second largest aid donor

Britain is second only to the US when it comes to overseas aid. Yesterday, 4th October, the British government announced that during the last financial year overseas development aid increased by over 12% reaching nearly 11 billion euros (£7.5 billion pounds), an all time record.

According to Britain?s international development secretary, Douglas Alexander, about 28 million children, 700 nurses and 3,000 health workers have benefited from British funds, while 2.5 million people in India Pakistan and Iraq can now access safe drinking water.

"It's clear that the UK is keeping its promises and that aid for development is increasing," said Mr. Alexander. "Every year our aid helps to lift around 3 million people permanently out of poverty and empowers poor countries to provide basic services such as health and education that we commonly take for granted."

More than aid is needed to fight poverty
According to Mr. Alexander even Britain?s commitment to allocate 0.7% of national income by 2013 is not all that is needed to guarantee development in the world?s poorest countries.

"We are committed to increasing our aid to poor countries, but fighting poverty and promoting development is not just about aid. The prime minister has signalled a new phase for delivering on our promises built upon new global partnerships, such as the new international health partnership launched in August, and doing more beyond aid."

This is welcome, if not new, news for development campaigners like Patrick Watt, policy coordinator at ActionAid, who said he was encouraged by the figures. "For developing countries to fight killer diseases such as HIV and get more children in to education, rich countries must up their game, so this is a great signal to send? he added, ?but it's also essential that this funding is consistent and that is why Gordon Brown must use the upcoming comprehensive spending review to increase the government's commitment to fighting poverty".

Meeting the 0.7% target
Campaigners are also worried about whether Britain will actually live up to its 0.7% target, as this would mean sustaining a 12% growth every year for the next 3 years. Realistic predictions say that a 9% growth is more likely.

Phil Bloomer, Oxfam's head of campaigns and policy, said: "These figures are great and show that the government is keeping its promises on aid – this money means lives saved. Now we need to see at least the same level of increase – 12% annually until 2010 – when the comprehensive spending review is announced to ensure that the UK continues to lead the world in the fight against poverty."