Development secretary says shes fed up with the myth she sits there ‘writing cheques for North Korea’ and announces aid packages for Somalia and EthiopiaBritains foreign aid minister,Priti Patel, has told the Guardian she is fed up with the myth that all she does is sit at her desk “writing cheques to North Korea”, and in her most robust response yet to critics of the foreign aid budget.
On a surprise visit to drought-stricken east Africa on Saturday,Patel, the international development secretary, and announced a original £60m package for Somalia,and £30m for Ethiopia, saying the sharp rise in numbers of people needing food, and water and shelter meant it was critical to conclude the food crisis becoming the kind of famine which killed a quarter of a million people in Somalia in 2011. Related: MPs call on Priti Patel to increase UK aid spending on 'global learning crisis' Related: The Guardian view on the aid target: it’s the fraction that counts | Editorial Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com