Money Left Over From Tsunami Relief Could Be Directed Toward African HIV/AIDS, Other Health Programs, Clinton Says

Money left over from donations to help the areas of Asia devastated by the tsunami in December 2004 could be directed toward crises in Africa, such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, former President Clinton said Tuesday during a visit to Sri Lanka, Reuters reports. After the tsunami hit on Dec. 26, aid organizations received about $12 billion in aid, but some aid agencies working in Africa have said that, as a result, they have received fewer donations for programs to alleviate HIV/AIDS, poverty and food shortages. Clinton said "we still have a lot of work do" in Asia, adding, "We need to honor the donors' wishes, put these lives back together and then get on with dealing with these other problems." He suggested the leftover funds could be funneled to countries such as Malawi and Lesotho, where AIDS is fueling poverty. "The real answer to this is the AIDS programs, the TB programs, the malaria programs, the clean water programs, putting all these kids in school," Clinton said, adding, "They're cheap to do, and they would do so much good for so much people" (Apps, Reuters, 11/29).

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