AFRICA - “World’s military expenses beat Cold War record. In Africa every year 15 billion dollars are wasted on war” OXFAM report

Rome (Agenzia Fides)- Also in Africa military expenses are increasing. According to a report issued by the British humanitarian agency OXFAM military expenses in the world in 2006 will amount to 1.059 billion dollars (835 billion Euro), beating the previous Cold War record. If the United States and the Middle East countries are mainly to blame for this increase some of the world’s poorest countries are helping to reach this sad record figure.
According to Oxfam from 1985 to 2000, Democratic Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Botswana and Uganda doubled their military budget. “Year on year arms spending escalates and year on year conflicts are causing more hunger and suffering. Arms sales do not start conflicts, but they certainly fuel and lengthen them. It is time the world stemmed the uncontrolled flood of weapons into the world’s war zones. The world must agree to start work on an Arms Trade Treaty this October,” said Bernice Romero, Oxfam International’s Campaigns Director”. In October the United Nations Organisation will discuss the formation of a commission of experts to draft the document. Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan and Kenya have expressed their support for the adoption of this agreement.
It is imperative to stop the arms race in order to tackle humanitarian crises and find resources to invest in development. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation every year in Africa 15 billion dollars are wasted on war. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2006 righe 29 parole 339)