UN scheme ‘could lift over 500m people out of poverty’

MORE than 500 million people can be lifted out of abject poverty, 250 million people will no longer go to bed hungry and 30 million children can be saved if rich countries double development aid over the next 10 years, a new United Nations sponsored report said yesterday.

In a 3,000-word report, some 265 experts came up with long-term projects and quick fixes, such as supplying mosquito bed nets against malaria to creating free school lunch programmes - to meet global goals of alleviating poverty and preventing disease that nations promised at a UN summit in 2000.

Poor nations were to reorder priorities, such as eliminating school fees and drawing up realistic development plans, and rich nations were to step up funds for specific projects, forgive debts and promote trade. But few have lived up to their commitments.