This appeal isn't designed to be just a sticking plaster. We want to help people across the region to recover and be in a better position when the next crisis hits.
"Dame Barbara Mary Stocking, Mrs. MacInnes", Order of the British Empire/DBE is Vice Chair of the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response and previous Chief Executive of Oxfam GB.
[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/barbarastocking The Guardian profile on Barbara Stocking] She joined the latter in 2001 and led the charity for nearly 12 years, stepping down in February 2013. In March 2013, she was elected as the fifth President of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge (founded as New Hall) and officially commenced her role in July 2013.
A former regional director of the National Health Service/NHS, under her leadership Oxfam has been trying to address crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Sudan, as well as addressing the aftermath of the South Asian tsunami and the earthquake in Pakistan. Stocking pushed for more focus on HIV/AIDS.
More Barbara Stocking on Wikipedia.This crisis might be getting less attention than the tsunami did, but the number of people needing help is even greater. The severity of this crisis means assistance is needed on a huge scale.
Today's announcement will make a real difference to millions of poor people. On the ground it will mean thousands of people get treatment for the first time in their lives. Zambia will need continued support to recruit new staff but this is a massive leap in the right direction. We now need other African countries to follow suit.
There is so much more that needs to be done urgently. We need to improve conditions in the spontaneous camps and reach those who have stayed further up in the mountains.
The falling temperatures could be lethal.
Illegal arms dealers are getting away with murder on a daily basis. Embargoes must be strengthened but even then they will remain a blunt instrument. They are often imposed by the UN Security Council on the basis of politics rather than principles and are usually deployed too late to save lives. The world urgently needs an Arms Trade Treaty if we're to stop weapons getting into the wrong hands .
We need to change the attitudes of people across the world. No matter how small we are, we can make a change.
Rich country governments must ensure the aid promised last year is used to pay for the millions of doctors, nurses and teachers, which are so badly needed.
The British public's generosity has helped pull whole regions back from the brink in the past, we now need their help to do that again.
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