Today’s Budget promise will save lives

International children’s charity World Vision UK has applauded the British Government for standing by its commitment to spend  0.7% of the UK’s Gross National Income on international aid.

The announcement, made by the Chancellor in today’s Budget, means the UK is making good on a 43-year-old promise to set aside less than a penny in every pound.

Justin Byworth, Chief Executive of World Vision UK, said: “This government has demonstrated real leadership – their decision today will transform the lives of children in the world’s toughest places.

“David Cameron has maintained the UK’s status as a world leader in international development, in the face of considerable pressure and opposition.

“We understand that the UK is facing its own economic challenges, but in a world where one in eight children will go to bed hungry tonight we must keep our own challenges in perspective. Setting aside a tiny amount of our budget is not only the right thing to do - it's the smart thing to do, because we know that aid works. It has already helped save 5 million children's lives a year.”

A recent report by the Enough Food For Everyone IF coalition shows the extra money means nearly 16 million children will get to go to school, 10 million people will be able to access decent nutrition, 80 million children will be immunised and 50,000 mothers who would have died in childbirth will survive.

World Vision is a member of the IF coalition which is campaigning to make 2013 the beginning of the end of hunger.

Yesterday, hundreds of people dressed as George Osborne convened on Parliament Square in London to demand the chancellor kept his commitment to overseas aid spending.

World Vision is an international children’s charity working in around 100 countries across the world to tackle the root causes of poverty.

Enough Food for Everyone IF is a coalition of more than 150 organisations which have joined together to campaign for action by the G8 on the issue of global hunger.

For more information visit worldvision.org.uk/if