One of Tony Blair's most cherished projects will be in jeopardy if he cannot convince his fellow G8 leaders to honour their promises on aid according to a new report from Oxfam. As the outgoing Prime Minister heads towards his last G8 Summit in Germany this year, Oxfam reveals that rich countries' target of an increase in overseas aid of $50 billion by 2010, which was agreed at Gleneagles in 2005, will be missed by a staggering $30 billion. Oxfam estimates that the projected shortfall, outlined in The World is Still Waiting, would condemn 5 million people to die needlessly from the effects of poverty - most of them will be women and children.

The UK has performed well ahead of other G8 countries, delivering large increases in aid, and a significant increase last year. However, even it is still not definitively on target to reach the promise it made at Gleneagles two years ago. On the current trajectory it will fall short of the $14.9 billion extra promised by 2010. The UK must set out a firm timetable in the Comprehensive Spending Review later this year.

Oxfam's Head of Advocacy Jo Leadbeater said:
"The substantial increase in UK aid is welcome, however other countries are way off track. The meeting of the G8 in Germany next month is the opportunity for rich countries to reaffirm the commitment to deliver this aid increase and set out a clear timetable for doing so."

The report also criticises the G8 for inaction in other key areas which affect the poorest people:
· On trade - rich country self-interest has defined talks at the World Trade Organisation which are failing to deliver trade justice for poor countries
· On security - the Darfur crisis is now in its fourth year and the number of people dependent on aid has risen to almost 4 million
· On climate change - rich countries are failing to take measures to halt catastrophic climate change. Instead of providing the billions of dollars poor countries need to adapt to the impact of climate change they are providing just a few million and diverting even these small amounts from existing aid budgets.

Jo Leadbeater said:
"Over the last two years 21 million children have died as a result of poverty - the equivalent of every child under five in Germany, France, Canada Japan, Italy and the UK combined. The G8 recognised the urgent need for more aid and debt relief when they made their promises in 2005. To renege on those promises now would be to snatch hope from the world's poorest and least powerful people."

Early in his premiership Tony Blair pledged to tackle poverty in Africa, calling it 'the scar on the conscience of the world.' When he presided over the G8 at Gleneagles, the 5 million campaigners who supported Make Poverty History welcomed the $50 billion more which was promised for 2010.

Jo Leadbeater said:
"Tony Blair has shown personal commitment to fighting poverty, leading Europe and the G8 in pushing for more aid and debt relief. Where there has been delivery the effects are tangible. Freedom from crippling debt has enabled Zambia to provide free primary health care in rural clinics, funds from DFID are being used to train and retain health staff in Malawi and primary education in Tanzania is now free. But Blair's legacy is ultimately dependent on getting all the G8 countries to fulfil the promises they made in 2005."

ENDS

For further information or an advance copy of The World is Still Waiting contact:
Lysbeth Holdoway 01865 472484

Note to editors

· Using the latest figures from the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS, Oxfam has calculated that the $30bn shortfall could provide vital healthcare for children, mothers and those suffering from HIV and AIDS, saving five million lives in 2010 alone and reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

· In the last two years 21 million children under five have died from preventable diseases. This is the equivalent of every child under five in Germany, France, Canada, Japan, Italy and the UK combined. In the same period one million women have died in pregnancy or child-birth for the want of simple medical care. This is the equivalent of every woman who gave birth in Germany and Canada last year.

For aid predictions in 2010 compared with promise see The World is Still Waiting.