Let’s be proud of British relief for disaster zones

PASSIONATE: Band Aid and Live Aid founder Bob Geldof

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First published Monday 30 December 2013 in Letters

DURING this season of goodwill, we should reflect on the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves.
We should also feel proud of our generosity to suffering children in war-torn and destitute countries.
Our Coalition Government has increased foreign aid and a great deal of good has been done. The 1984 Band Aid charity song Do they Know it’s Christmas? left a huge impression on a very young David Cameron. He decided, aged 18, that he would help the starving mouths in Africa as soon as he came to power.
The Lib-Dems fully supported the brave, and sometimes controversial, decision to increase our donations via foreign aid. As giving individuals the generous British people have donated more to the typhoon disaster victims in the Philippines than any other country in the world.
And, finally, the charitable actions of Oxford pensioner Michael Hugh-Jones deserve a mention. This gentleman donated his winter fuel payment to help others in fuel poverty – an action that embodies the true spirit of Christmas.
SUSAN THOMAS Magdalen Road Oxford