Don’t cut aid to developing countries... it’s our calling card to the world

AS the recession brings further cuts in government spending, it may be good to remind ourselves this global crisis requires a global response.

In fact, communities in poor countries who did nothing to cause the crisis are now experiencing its impact strongest as they lack any of the buffers that enable rich countries to weather the storm.

In Ireland, 300 people a day are losing their jobs. In contrast, in developing countries 500 children a day are losing their lives as a direct result of the crisis.

Alarmingly, as the world’s poor need our assistance more than ever, there are people who call for our overseas aid to be scrapped.

In their minds, Ireland’s aid is charity to be turned on when Ireland is feeling “generous to the Third World” and then turned off when we are feeling the pinch.

Cutting aid now would not just be morally wrong, it would also be shortsighted.

It ignores the fact that we in the rich countries have created this crisis and that our aid is our calling card to the world: for millions of people, Ireland is a caring nation of missionaries and aid workers.

Cutting our aid now would mean doing serious damage to Ireland’s international reputation as a country that keeps its promises.

Hans Zomer

Director

Dóchas

Harcourt Street

Dublin 2