International Agency Oxfam reports that the donor governments are being urged to pledge $1.7 billion to the United Nations’ annual humanitarian appeal.
Up-to-date figures show that there are in total 14 serious crises around the globe, mainly located in Africa. Devastating conflicts in Sudan, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and many other countries have pushed 13 million people into lives as refugees, and a further 25 million have even been displaced within their own countries.
Frequently, extensive reports from the mass media at the beginning of these crises have drawn major concern from the international community. However, the victims have so easily been forgotten by people as the headlines are taken off and the news flows elsewhere.
Oxfam spokesperson, Nicola Reindorp reflected on the reality: “In Northern Uganda, a war has raged for 18 years causing 1.6 million to flee their homes, yet it has largely been ignored by donor governments and the world’s media.”
She cited some examples which indicate that there is a desperate need for the continued support from worldwide donors:
- The UN appealed for $3.4 billion for 2004 to help save the lives of 45 million people in 21 of the world's worst crises. Yet as at November 4, donor countries had provided only just over half the funding required, at $1.86 billion.
- In 2004, the UN appealed for $162 million for the Democratic Republic of Congo, but received just $101 million, only 62% of its appeal.
- In 2004, for Darfur and Chad, the UN has appealed for $535 million but so far has received less than two thirds of its appeal, $343 million.
- For Liberia, donors provided less than half the total needed: $140 million was needed, with just $66 million provided.
- The appeal for Sierra Leone was just 36% funded: the UN appealed for $61 million, receiving just $22 million.
- Cote d’Ivoire: the UN appeal for $61 million, and received just $11 million, only 18% of the total needed
In the Darfur crisis, even though security is improving step by step, malnutrition and hunger have become the main problems facing the aid agencies under the scarcity of resources. As many crops were not sown due to fighting and insecurity, Oxfam estimated that 2 million people will be dependent on the food assistance from aid agency in the coming months.
Oxfam criticised that the world’s spending priorities were wrongly skewed towards defence. A staggering $900 billion is spent on defence globally, yet wealthy nations spend between just $50-60 billion on overseas aid.
“Every day we face the terrible reality that there is not enough aid to reach those in need,” said Reindorp. “The generosity of the world’s wealthy nations simply has not kept pace with the rising calamities.”
Oxfam have therefore strongly emphasised the need to shift the wealth to the forgotten lives in the world’s troubled countries.
