Today, the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) committed to a comprehensive package of aid to Africa. British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the G8 would increase aid to Africa by $25 billion, more than a doubling of 2004 levels; increase global assistance by around $50 billion per year by 2010; provide near-universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment drugs; cancel the debt of some of the world’s poorest nations; and address trade reforms in the near future.

STATEMENT FROM ONE:

The ONE campaign is encouraged by the commitment at the G8 Summit to fighting the crisis of extreme poverty and global AIDS. We welcome the pledges by G8 leaders to provide an additional $25 billion in development assistance to address the emergency in Africa as part of an additional $50 billion globally by 2010. The 1.4 million Americans who have joined the ONE campaign take satisfaction in the recent commitment to double U.S. aid to Africa and President Bush’s commitment of more to come. We will remain vigilant to ensure that those promises are made a reality.

“These pledges are a positive step forward in a comprehensive debt-aid-trade deal to reduce extreme poverty in the poorest countries. Based on the outcomes of this summit, the United States has moved a step closer to achieving the ONE campaign’s goal of devoting an additional 1% of the budget to reducing extreme poverty.”

“ONE will continue to advocate for more and better aid, expanded debt relief and trade reform that helps poor countries trade their way out of poverty.”

ONE was founded by 11 of America’s most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations: Bread for the World, CARE, DATA, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Plan USA, Save the Children US, World Concern, and World Vision. For the complete list of all coalition partners, please visit www.ONE.org.