Blocking aid

Because of the obstinance of the US administration, the UN conference on development finance will not be promoting a target of 0.7% of GNP for aid. The current average for developed countries is 0.22%.

According to the UN, rich countries need to double the current $50 billion annual development assistance to reach the 2015 goals of halving the number of people suffering poverty, hunger or lacking access to drinking water; achieving universal primary schooling; vastly reducing maternal and infant mortality rates; and halting the spread of preventable diseases.

These goals seem to me fundamental to our humanity. How sad that the funding is a political issue, rather than a clear responsibility for the rich nations of the world.