Oxfam Says Aid Funding Should Not Be Used to Attain Short-Term Military Goals

Oxfam, an international aid agency, has issued a report saying that aid used to further military objectives has a dangerous effect on aid workers.  It accuses donor nations of spending money foolishly on expensive and unsustainable projects. 

"Billions of dollars in aid have been spent on projects that are expensive, unsustainable and sometimes even dangerous, because donor governments are increasingly using the money to support their short-term military and security goals, international aid agency Oxfam said on Thursday.

The neutrality and safety of aid workers is compromised if local people see humanitarian and development funding as a tool of the military, the charity says in a report. It notes that 225 aid workers were killed, kidnapped or injured in attacks during 2010, up from 85 in 2002, partly reflecting a rise in politically motivated violence." 

Read the news report in "Aid Increasingly Wasted on Security Aims: Oxfam", AlertNet, February 10, 2011.