Having just returned from a trip to Central Africa where I visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Sudan, I am convinced that responsibly provided debt relief to the poorest countries of the world is one of the best ways to help the poor and the suffering. The countries I recently visited are among the poorest of the world. Life in those countries and throughout Africa is not easy. Death, famine, disease and pain are a constant as millions struggle to survive another day. A recent report by the United Nations says that 180 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are undernourished.
Some children go days without a meal.
Malnourishment lowers immune systems and horrible diseases take hold. The AIDS virus is reaching epidemic proportions. More than 2 million Africans died of AIDS in 2000. Hunger and disease lead the list as the major crises facing the poorest countries of the world. Many of the poorest countries must spend an exorbitant amount of their budgets simply to make their debt payments.