(January 6, 2005) The UN was picked by the nations that suffered from the tsunami in the Indian Ocean as the leader of the relief operations.

(January 6, 2005) While debt forgiveness has a place in international aid, such a very general measure is not the appropriate response to the very specific needs created by the Asian tsunami: comment.

(January 6, 2005) The International Monetary Fund and World Bank on Thursday came out in favour of a debt moratorium for the countries worst hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

(January 6, 2005)Gordon Brown has reiterated his call for a new form of Marshall plan to deliver “a once in a generation opportunity” to eliminate global poverty.

(January 6, 2005) Tsunami funds could mean less elsewhere.

(January 5, 2005) UK Chancellor Gordon Brown wants the world’s richest nations to freeze foreign debt repayments for countries hit by the Asian tsunami disaster. The move would allow such countries to focus money on reconstruction.

(January 5, 2005) The Jubilee Debt Campaign and the World Development Movement called for debt to be cancelled as “the most effective way to fund the long-term alleviation of poverty, not just as a response to a disaster”.

(January 5, 2005) The Paris Club, a 19-member private creditor that offers debt relief, have begun deliberating whether or not to offer a debt moratorium to the countries affected by the disaster.

(January 4, 2005) Chancellor Gordon Brown suggested that there is little point in the west spending millions on aid while at the same time continuing to receive debt repayments.

(December 28, 2004) “In the face of this massive destruction, northern and international creditors should not continue to hold South peoples in bondage for debts that have in large part, only contributed to their impoverishment and deprivation.”

(December 20, 2004) Gordon Brown: ‘We must rise to the challenge of tackling world poverty.’

(December 16, 2004) 2005 could be a big year in the fight against poverty.

(November 26, 2004) An international workshop on debt organized by Jubilee South has called for the implementation of a comprehensive, official audit process to assess the legitimacy of external debts owed by countries over-burdened with outstanding loan repayments.

(November 4, 2004) Remember the UN millennium conference, when over 100 world leaders promised to halve poverty by the year 2015? At present progress it will take another 150 years to reach that noble target.

(October 7, 2004) Irish rocker and anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof accused the EU aid chief on Thursday of talking nonsense after he criticised British plans to cut Third World debt.