G8: Resources Not Rhetoric

On the penultimate day of the G8 summit, SCIAF, is calling on the G8 to keep the promises it made in Scotland two years ago, by providing resources not rhetoric.

In 2005, G8 leaders promised to give an extra $50 billion in aid, per annum, by 2010. Just three years away from the deadline and the G8 countries are cutting the amount spent on aid. Recent OECD figures show that from 2005 to 2006 aid from G7 countries (excluding Russia) fell by 8.7%. Over the same period the gross national income of the G8 increased by $660 billion. It would cost the G8 countries just 4% of this increased income to meet their promises to the African continent on aid.

Abi Dymond, SCIAF Policy Analyst attending the G8, said:

“It is scandalous that rich are getting richer but giving less to poor countries. I’ve seen with my own eyes that more and better aid is desperately needed, and that aid makes a real difference in developing countries such as Zambia and Uganda. It is vital that the G8 take real action now and deliver on their promises. If they do, millions of lives can be saved.”

Speaking as SCIAF’s partner in Zambia, Muyatwa Sitali from JCTR – a leading Zambian campaigns group – agreed:

“The G8 say they are making progress, when in fact they are still not giving real aid but are fiddling the figures in their favour by counting debt relief as aid – which is not new money. JCTR and poor citizens in Zambia are playing our part by monitoring the record of the Zambian government. Now we need the G8 leaders to keep their side of the bargain by giving more and better aid as we were promised.”