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March 26, 2003
Money for war, pittance for peace
The United States is spending $75 billion on the war in Iraq. Meanwhile, it and other rich countries are ignoring appeals for help from African countries devastated by famines and AIDS:
Two million people in Eritrea face starvation from drought. The UN has asked for $163 million in emergency food aid; it has received $4 million, or just 2.5 percent of what was requested. Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, and DR Congo have received similarly small percentages.
The United States spends $12 billion a year on military operations in Afghanistan to hunt down the remnants of Al Qaeda, but only $300 million a year in humanitarian aid, and even that was only after pressure from Congress.
It's good to see where our priorities are.
Monbiot's article in the Guardian
Posted by Tyrone at March 26, 2003 01:51 PM