Horn of Africa

[Chrisjay]

The new threat there from both war and draught needs £40 million in urgent aid

I would suggest the government takes some of the £660 million it has earmarked for Pakistan and channel it there

They keep saying they have 'learned lessons' but after Band Aid more than 20 years ago have they learnt anything?  I would offer not as in 20 years they could have sunk deep wells to bring up water, unless I am mistaken if you drill deep enough you will always hit water.

Just sending food and water is never going to solve this problem they need the aid spent of building an infrastructure so they become self sufficient.

I do always wonder when I see the pictures of the starving children on TV why the adults in the main always look fed and in fact on the news last night they we actually very chubby faced.

I know I am a cynic but I am afraid this time they will not be getting any donations from me I neither choose to add to the aid budget nor can I afford to support other countries in the way I once could - I'm a pensioner

[Angelo]

Yet again we see those poor children suffering. I always think that one of those children might hold some secret seed in their mind which could benefit all mankind. But we waste it when this happens.
If we can't nurture our children then why are we here at all ?
With all the wealth of the world one has to ask WHY ?
When we give aid, where doe's it actually end up ?  the money seems to end up buying arms for the war lords to subjugate their peoples. Greed and power again.
Makes you appreciate our fragile democracies in the west. Bearing in mind that it was not that long ago when we were being used in the same way by our aristocracy.

Perhaps we should not send money, but goods, expertise and like you say dig for water rather than feed the result.
I despair !

[FREDDO]

I have felt for a while now that Aid Agencies are only interested in money and not actual things that can help people in need, this view follows an appeal similar to the present one saying shelter and clothing was needed for refugees, a friend of mine contacted the Aid Agency and said that he could obtain ex army tents for the use in deserts and blankets and would send them free to any where they required them.
The Agency said it was only interested in receiving money.

Says to me that money is used for something other than what it is intended for.

[Chrisjay]

I was equally disturbed when I watched a programme late one evening this week interviewing Oxfam and their warehouse was full of crates and water drilling equipment but they were waiting for the £40 million they are asking the public to donate before they send it out

[Sixtyplus]

I'm sure I will be castigated for my heartless message but once again we see, read and hear about so many starving less fortunate people than us in this miserable world but if I can have an honest answer to my question I will readdress my thoughts. Where and on what is the £12.5 billion pounds that this country donates in foreign aid each year spent or donated to or on? It is all so unreal especially when we have footballers changing clubs for figures in excess of £50 million and they then enjoy wages of at least £200,000 a week. Yes you read correctly £200,000 PER WEEK. I'm lucky I get by just on £564.00 A MONTH

[Chrisjay]

I agree with you sixty plus as I think as pensioners we will soon need to be asking for overseas aid maybe we should launch a campaign asking for £40 million is aid

This does not trivialise the problems in Africa but says we simply cannot afford to aid countries with space budgets and that money would be better servered being re directed to Africa there is only so much in the pot - however the aid we give should be more focused on the infrastructure of Africa as over the years since Band Aid and Live Aid we have given Trillions and the people still starve - giving some food and water now may keep people alive in the short term but they need long term solutions to address the long term problems

[caminito]

One of the readers comments regarding the overseas aid
quote.....

In the pre-flight lecture that we all get - as we wait for the aircraft to take off - there is always the instruction that - if the oxygen masks fall down - ALWAYS put yours on first - BEFORE - you try to help anybody else. It's a comparison that should be applied to ' foreign aid '.... Make sure your own country is alright - and functioning - BEFORE - you try to help anybody else. If you don't - you'll be dead - and in no position to help anybody.

- Jack Russell.., Yorkshire.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2012074/David-Camerons-foreign-aid-How-money-squandered.html#ixzz1RPoHDxEy

[Chrisjay]

Funny I was going to post this same article and still may put parts of it on here but I totally agree with the sentiments of 'Jack Russell' that if we cannot look after ourselves we will eventually loose the ability to help anyone else.

Now who wants to send this to the MP's as a lesson in infrastructure for the nation

[elizabeth24]

I couldn't agree with these sentiments more. I will always donate in a real emergency - the Boxing Day Tsunami for example - but the money we send to Africa never seems to help in the long term. They need to be taught how to farm - how to use the limited water supplies to irrigate their crops, and how to become self sufficient, as Chris has pointed out. I have visited Egypt several times - an arid, desert country, but they have been farming for thousands of years, using the Nile to irrigate their crops. The Africans could do the same. In the meantime, I'm afraid I won't be able to donate anything (and I wouldn't if I could) because I have enough of a struggle to feed myself.

[Chrisjay]

A sentiment shared by most of us I'm sure 

[curly72]

I can only agree with all that's been said. I will never give to Africa. You may as well dig a hole in your garden and chuck the money in it.

[Rita Postlethwaite]

It is a sad fact of life that some people can NEVEr be helped.

[Angelo]

You would have to be extremely Hard Hearted to be unmoved by the plight of those poor people caught once again by not only circumstances beyond their control. But also by OUR incompetence and greed. Selling arms to them instead of plowshares ! for instance.
I remember from my childhood being not much better off than them.Only fortunate enough to live in a country who had gone thro the same times but had prevailed. This only because unlike them we ceased to be tribal and became humane instead.
A sad fact of life is that no country prospers while it is at war with itself. Our (political)incompetence is that we are unable or unwilling to help them achieve this state.

[granny bee]

Subjected to constant appeals for money, made to feel guilty if you do not contribute - the guilt of course should be laid firmly at the doors of those in the arms industry who supply these countries warlords with the means to cause the havoc and starvation amongst their own people!  Perhaps charities should highlight members of these arms industries and approach them for contributions out of their vast profits rather than the poor of this country.

[Angelo]

As THE EATON BOYS WOULD SAY  Hear ! Hear !