Even then, they normally cannot afford to make repayments in full, so they go into arrears, causing their debt to grow larger. No matter who is to blame for the huge build-up of debt, the only people who suffer as a result are the poorest people in the world. Debt repayments divert money away from basic life-saving health care in the world's poorest countries. The UN estimates that if debt repayment was diverted back into health care and education, each year the lives of seven million children could be saved. The best way to help the poor countries is to stop taking their money.
History shows that the right kind of debt cancellation is good for everyone.
Germany received massive debt relief after the Second World War. Jubilee 2000 has undertaken a global campaign to cancel the unpayable debts of the world's poorest countries. Please sign the petition and give hope to the impoverished people of the world.