Millions of Africans face food shortages that could lead to starvation because much of the $5.6 billion in international aid spent each year to help them arrives too late, is targeted at the wrong things and is usually only a short-term measure that doesn't tackle the root cause of hunger, CARE International UK said in a new report.
"It is a disgrace that money is still given too late and for such short periods, then spent on the wrong things to truly fight emergencies," said Geoffrey Dennis, the organization's chief executive. "There is no excuse, when by spending money more intelligently, we can bring an end to all but the most unpredictable food crises."
As a result, crises are growing in frequency, the charity said in its report, "Living on the Edge of Emergency -- An Agenda for Change."
Emergency aid to help Africa has increased from $936 million in 1997 to $5.6 billion last year. But unless foreign donors change the way aid is spent, Africa will face mounting hunger and starvation, deepening poverty and conflict on a continent already reeling from wars, the report said.
In the last year alone, 35 million people in southern and western Africa and the Horn of Africa region faced starvation -- equivalent to more than half the population of Britain.
CARE said that aid should be more regular and predictable, targeted at recovery and prevention programs such as seed distribution and improved veterinary services, and should provide training.
Ethiopia has suffered food crises almost every year since 1986, yet the United States' spending on long-term development to withstand shortages is less than 1 percent of its emergency aid, which for the U.S. can top $500 million a year, the report said.
In a 2005 hunger emergency in the West African nation of Niger, $1 a day spent early would have prevented malnutrition among children, the report said. Late aid meant it cost $80 to save a malnourished child's life, it said.
[AP]
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