More than 75,000 children will die during G8 summit

Save the Children warned that G8 leaders, who are meeting today in L’Aquila, are failing to do enough to save the lives of 9 million children.

Wednesday 8 July 2009


Our mini-G8 leaders are causing a stir in Rome, where this banner is hanging from our office building. Follow our tweets and blogs from the G8 summit.

Half the aid needed

Only 3% of aid that rich countries give to the developing world goes into maternal, newborn and child healthcare. The total contribution is only $3.5 billion a year, half of what we're calling for. 

If the G8 leaders and other donors do not double that money to at least $7 billion by 2012, they will have no chance of reaching their target to reduce child mortality by two thirds by 2015. At the current rate of progress, this target will only be achieved by 2045. 

Adrian Lovett, Save the Children’s Director of Campaigns said: “It is outrageous that 9.2 million children are still dying every year. More than 75,000 alone will die over the three-day G8 summit. 

“Previous G8 leaders have made promises that have too often not been kept. This year they have to show they are committed to saving children’s lives by doubling aid for maternal, newborn and child healthcare. 

“The G8 and other rich countries are only giving $3.5 billion a year to stop children dying. That’s half of what Save the Children knows is needed to substantially reduce child mortality.” 

The G8 leaders have also failed to deliver on the promise they made in Gleneagles: that the G8 and other world leaders would give an extra $50 billion in aid by 2010, bringing the total to $130 billion.  

New figures by Save the Children show that contributions from the G8 members alone are already $20 billion short, a deficit which looks set to rise to $25 billion by next year.  

Lovett added: “Quite simply, every dollar the G8 holds back means another child’s life is threatened and more children will die.”

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