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African Summit Raises Fraction of $1.4bn Famine Fund
Sunday, 28 August 2011 22:53
Oil-rich Nigeria and powerhouse South Africa pledge pittance compared with smaller neighbours
African leaders have come under fierce criticism after a much-delayed African Union summit to tackle the food crisis in the Horn of Africa raised less than 4 per cent of the shortfall needed. Only four heads of state – from Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Equatorial Guinea – attended the meeting, designed to gather urgently needed funds to help
save the nearly 13 million people now at risk of starvation on the continent. Only 21 out of the 54 countries in the AU made pledges, with $20m of the $46m promised coming from three states – Algeria, Angola and Egypt. Aid groups say they need $1.4bn to meet the shortfall in tackling the emergency. Jean Ping, chairman of the AU commission, announced the summit had raised more than $350m, but the bulk of the sum was in fact a $300m loan from the African development bank and not a grant at all.
Small countries such as Gabon and the Gambia pledged sums way above what was expected from the size of their economies, but several bigger nations donated paltry sums. Aid experts are particularly disappointed with the amounts pledged from oil-rich countries such as Nigeria, which promised $2m, and from South Africa, supposedly the continent's economic powerhouse, which offered $1.3m.
Written by Emily Dugan
Source: Independent.co.uk
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Comments
Of course,there is a need to help the starving people of Somalia and The Gambia has a rich history of giving a helping hand to the needy,even during the first Republic.
What worries me,however,is the amount of money given on our behalf. $1m US Dollars is far too much for a country like ours to donate to another country. We simply cannot afford it, given the size of our economy.
If economic power houses like Nigeria & S/Africa are donating $1.3m & $2m US Dollars respectively,Th e Gambia should not overburden itself.
Another worry is the source of the money. Since Jammeh doesn't distinguish between his personal funds and that of the state,one wonders who is the real benefactor. Either way,its not good for the country and amounts to not 'CUTTING OUR CLOTHES ACCORDING TO OUR SIZE'.
President Jammeh's generosity is well known.
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