Press Room > Oxfam Ireland Press Release
January 18th 2004
Oxfam International Response to the UN Millennium Project Report
Investing in Development Oxfam welcomes the report of the UN Millennium Project on the extra money and other reforms needed to overcome poverty, the launch of which was marked in Ireland today by Conor Lenihan, Minister for overseas development.
"The Report of the Millennium Project lays down the gauntlet to the leaders of rich countries. 2005 must see substantial new investment to fund a war on poverty. The tiny amounts currently given by rich countries are inexcusable and the poorest are paying with their lives" said Colin Roche, Advocacy Officer with Oxfam Ireland.
"The global outpouring of generosity in response to the tsunami disaster shows what the international community can achieve when it unites behind a common purpose. The question posed by the Sachs report is 'can we now turn this energy to ending the scourge of extreme poverty and achieving the MDGs?' The cost is low. The benefits are huge. Oxfam believes we can" said Mr. Roche
'This report, once again highlights the need for rich countries like Ireland to live up to their promises on delivering aid to people living in poverty. The government should now announce how it will meet the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP in overseas aid and immediately increase the aid budget accordingly.' continued Mr. Roche
Note To Editors:
In 2000, governments agreed a set of objectives - the Millennium Development Goals -which set out targets to meet in these areas by 2015. But at current rates of progress, many of the goals will be missed, in many parts of the world.
The new report emphasizes the need for governments to ensure that 0.7% of their national economic production is spent on poverty alleviation. Although some have met this goal, most governments still lag way behind.
The report also recommends a dramatic acceleration of debt relief for many heavily indebted countries.
Oxfam fears that if the world fails to meet the Millennium Development Goals and current trends are allowed to continue:
o 45 million more children will die between now and 2015
o 247 million more people in Sub-Saharan Africa will be living on less than $1 a day in 2015
o 97 million more children will still be out of school in 2015
o 53 million more people in the world will lack proper sanitation facilities
In November 2004 the Irish Government announced its intention to renege on the pledge made by the Taoiseach at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 to achieve the UN target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Product on overseas aid (ODA) by 2007. On the Government's spending and growth estimates Government spending will be 0.43% of GNP in 2007. Oxfam estimates expenditure in 2004 will amount to 0.39% of GNP.