Message from Alan Duncan, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
The response of the British people to the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in South East Asia has been overwhelming. What is now important is to ensure that these donations and the money committed to the relief effort by the Government is spent in the most effective way. We believe that the Government should now put a final figure on the amount of money they will make available for the relief and reconstruction efforts and which budgets this money will be taken from. I have also called for the money which has been set aside by the Government to be placed in a ring-fenced fund so that clear plans can be made for investment in the long-term reconstruction of the afflicted areas.
The tsunami was no-ones fault, but if lessons can be learnt which would reduce the extent of another similar occurrence, changes to current arrangements should be considered. The scale of the disaster throws up a number of questions about the mechanisms in place to respond to major disasters, and if some of the resources which are made available after major humanitarian crisis like this one would be better invested in pre-emptive disaster mitigation and preparedness schemes.
We need to ensure that the response to this natural disaster isn’t allowed to eclipse the responsibility we have to the poor across the world. This year Britain holds the presidencies of both the G8 and the EU. This gives us a unique opportunity to help lift people out of poverty by radically reforming the way in which we deliver aid and by fighting for free markets and for fair trade. We owe it to the people of Asia and across the world to ensure that this opportunity isn’t squandered.