UN chief urges G8 to honor commitments to aid Africa

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says it's time for G8 nations to start living up to their aid commitments to Africa. Ban made the remarks on the sidelines of the G8 summit.

The G8 nations made the commitments in 2005 to double their aid to Africa by 2010. A report last month said under current spending plans, the G8 will fall 40 billion US dollars short of its target.

The UN chief urged them to come good on their promises. He also said the international community must act without delay to ease the plight of tens of millions of people suffering under soaring global food prices.

Ban Ki-moon said, "The world faces three simultaneous crises -- a food crisis, a climate crisis and a development crisis. The three crises are deeply interconnected and need to be addressed as such."

World Bank President Robert Zoellick echoed Ban's concerns.

Zoellick said, "How we respond to this double jeopardy of soaring fuel and food prices is a test of the global system's commitment to help the most vulnerable. It is a test we cannot afford to fail. This G8 summit must bring hope to those without hope, food to those without food.

The issue of African poverty topped the agenda at the start of the three-day G8 summit.

Zoellick also noted that for globalization to succeed and achieve its promise, it must be both inclusive and sustainable.