Ethiopia aid visit for MP (From Ledbury Reporter)

Ethiopia aid visit for MP

8:30pm Wednesday 29th February 2012 in News

MALVERN'S MP is visiting Ethiopia this week to see at first hand how UK aid is saving children from famine and disease.

Harriett Baldwin is a Save the Children parliamentary champion and as part of her work she supports the work of the charity which has a strong and active presence in her West Worcestershire constituency and branches raise funds to support its global work.

The five-day trip is allowing Mrs Baldwin – who says she has been a lifelong supporter of the organisation – to see the situation on the ground in Ethiopia, the country with the highest infant mortality rate in the world.

Mrs Baldwin said: “Like many people I have been appalled at the reports coming out of East Africa.

“The British people have been generous in their support for the East Africa appeal and generous in their support for increasing international aid to 0.7 per cent of national income from 2013.

“Ethiopia is one of the 27 countries where Britain focuses its aid budget.

“I am looking forward to reporting back to the local Malvern branch of Save the Children about my trip and continuing to fund-raise for the charity.

“It is important to keep this ongoing humanitarian crisis in the public eye.”

Mrs Baldwin’s trip has been arranged to take place during parliamentary recess and does not involve any taxpayer funding.