House of Commons, International Development Committee. (Volume 1)
The developing world was not responsible for causing the current economic crisis, but it is paying a heavy price for mistakes made by rich countries. Poor countries are experiencing significantly reduced income from trade, remittances and foreign investment. As a result, an additional 90 million people are expected to be living in poverty by the end of 2010, and 400,000 more children are likely to die. Progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating hunger and extreme poverty has been set back three years. It is essential that the world’s poorest people are protected against the worst effects of the downturn. The Department for International Development (DFID) is increasing its funding for social protection programmes, which help to provide essential services for the most vulnerable, as part of a broader initiative led by the World Bank. Such programmes are welcome but their coverage must ensure that the most needy do not slip through the net.