Money lost to African conflicts could help fight against AIDS

The money spent in Africa on war could help solve the HIV/AIDS crisis, a new report has claimed.

According to the Oxfam research, the continent has lost $300 billion (£148 billion) that could have gone towards development and the battle against disease in particular as a result of the past 15 years of conflict.

And the report highlighted the fact that the money lost was equal to the amount received in international aid in the same period.

Irungu Houghton, Oxfam African policy adviser, commented: "The costs are shocking. Our figures are almost certainly an underestimate but they show conflicts are costing African economies an average of $18 billion (£9 billion) a year."

She added: "This money could solve the HIV/AIDS crisis, prevent TB and malaria, or provide clean water, sanitation and education."

The report found 23 African countries were involved in conflict of some sort in the period 1990 to 2005, resulting in a severe slowdown in their development.

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