G8 countries had wrangled late into Thursday night about specifics on aid for Africa.New money They were expected broadly to recommit themselves to pledges made at a 2005 summit in Scotland when they said they would double development funding by 2010.The $60 billion will be used to combat Aids, malaria and tuberculosis, global diseases that have been especially devastating for African peoples and their economies.Campaigners for Africa say the $60 billion pledge falls short of UN targets for extending treatment to tackle diseases.Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, will make the deal public on the summit's final day after a meeting with the heads of six African nations, including Thabo Mbeki, the South African president.
Merkel told reporters: "We are aware of our obligations and would like to fulfill our promises."
The G8 aid initiatives include:
- $60 billion for HIV/Aids over the next few years. Of that 30 billion dollars has already been pledged by the United States. Part of the 60 billion dollars includes six to eight billion dollars for the Global Fund to fight Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.
- Specific mention of the aid commitment made at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to progressively increase aid by $50 billion per year by 2010, of which half would go to Africa.
- Three "significant dollar commitments" to support action on mother-to-child, paediatric treatments, maternal and child health totalling $4.8 billion.
- A commitment to allow local production of drugs such as anti-retrovirals for HIV/Aids patients to ensure cheaper prices for medication.- An agreement to cut the prevalence of malaria in 30 African countries, which is responsible for 80 per cent of deaths, cutting deaths in half.
- Strong support for funding national health strategies.
- $500 million for education in 2007 and support for long-term funding.
- Support for sustainable financing of African peacekeeping, establishing a standby force and building capacity.
Protests
Police helicopters forced down a Greenpeace hot air balloon on Friday as the environmental group took to the skies to try to get its message across to leaders at the summit.
Police helicopters enforcing a no-fly zone around the summit in the Baltic resort of Heiligendamm swiftly circled the balloon, creating turbulence and forcing it to land in a field some 20 km from the venue.
The white hot air balloon had a giant yellow banner with the slogan "G8 Act Now" hanging below it, with the word "Failed" stamped across it. It was in the air for around 15 minutes before it was forced down.
Land access to the G8 summit venue, a luxury hotel complex in the small seaside town of Heiligendamm, was blocked for a third day on Friday as thousands of anti-globalisation protesters camped out on several nearby roads.
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