The Need For Aid Now More Than Ever
While Canada and many western countries are facing one of the most serious health and economic crisis of the recent decades, countries in the developing world are dealing with yet another crisis. As the number of coronavirus related deaths have reached over 1,160,700 people over the past few months — 9,952 in Canada — this number should be put in perspective to understand the challenges faced by millions of people around the world who every year die of hunger and hunger related disease (9 million per year of which 1/3 are children) or other preventable diseases (especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia).
The surge of such an unexpected and deadly virus has led too many donor countries to focus on domestic and internal policies forgetting that the lives of millions of people in the developing world still rely on international aid and support.
Let’s let Covid open our eyes and understand that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is still central and crucial for the survival of many children and young people in the developing world. And let’s not forget the meaningful contribution Canada can have in helping achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
