05 June 2007

A diluted deal on Africa at this week’s G8 summit in the German beach resort of Heiligendamm will spell a massive missed opportunity to improve the lives of millions, says anti-poverty agency ActionAid.As final wrangling takes place on the summit outcome, ActionAid warns that officials are focusing on whether to re-state existing commitments to Africa, rather than act to deliver on promises made in 2005.

"This discussion is stuck in completely the wrong place", said Collins Magalasi, ActionAid’s spokesperson in Heiligendamm. "We should be looking at implementation of existing pledges, and measures to respond to the challenges of investment and climate change in Africa.

"Instead we’re confronted by reports of scaling back on promises made in Gleneagles. The world’s poorest people need immediate action not half measures."

ActionAid is calling for:

• A long-term funding plan to reverse the HIV and AIDS pandemic
• Annual targets to deliver on the 2005 promise to deliver an extra $50 billion in aid by 2010
• Action to hold G8-based companies accountable for their activities oversea
• Agreements on year-on-year cuts to G8 carbon emissions, and on the resources and technology that poor countries need to adapt to climate change.