Rich nations must provide stimulus for the poor says World Vision

World Vision has urged rich nations at the G20 to provide a stimulus package to help the world’s poorest and warns that without a concerted effort on a global scale, at least another 53 million could be pushed to extreme poverty.

Already the hard won efforts of the nearly 200 nations who, under the Millennium Campaign, pledged to halve world poverty by 2015 are being dismantled by the global financial crisis. 

“We can no longer afford to think of only local effects. The G20 should be a precursor to the global cooperation which is desperately needed to combat climate change, and to make world trade work for emerging nations,” says World Vision’s CEO Tim Costello.

World Vision’s comments echo World Bank President Robert Zoellick who, standing alongside Kevin Rudd, called on world leaders at the G20 Summit not to forget the developing world, warning that the economic crisis could become a social and human crisis.

“Assistance developing nations need is relatively small by the standards of our rich country economies - only around 2 per cent of the domestic stimulus packages of rich countries – but it can make a huge difference for the very poorest people.”

Mr Costello added that “we all have a role to play, not just world leaders.”

World Vision has also urged Australians to reach out to the poor with the launch of Family Challenge to raise urgently needed sponsors for children in some of the worst hit countries in the world.

Launching the challenge on national television this morning Mr Costello said "In tough economic times Family Challenge is an opportunity to share the cost of child sponsorship with friends and family.”

"During the global financial crisis family is important to us and it's important to remember we really are blessed. When you sponsor a child your money goes to the whole community not just the child. The child is like a window to their community.

“Rising food prices in Australia may mean we eat out less often, and shop more carefully. In some countries, the price of basic foodstuffs means poor people do not eat.”

Tim Costello and Salil Shetty are available for media interviews.
Salil Shetty, Head of UN Millennium Campaign, is in London attending the G20 Conference.

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Michelle Rice 0402 503 227
Bill Pheasant 0413 701 028