CAFOD welcomes increased government funding for Latin America

CAFOD has welcomed the Department for International Development's (DFID's) announcement to increase funding to Latin America: Clare Dixon, Head of Latin America and the Caribbean at CAFOD, said: "We are delighted with today's announcement. The increased funding will enable CAFOD and its partner organisations to do more to help people living in poverty in Latin America. We will work together to tackle HIV and AIDS, to support the landless and those vulnerable to natural disasters and people already suffering the effects of climate change. "We are very pleased that DFID has listened to civil society organisations and recognises the key role played by them throughout the region in the fight against poverty and injustice. A particularly exciting element of DFID's plan is the creation of a special fund to share the learning and innovation from Latin America with other developing regions. "Despite some economic growth, the gulf between rich and poor in Latin America is widening and the number of ultra-poor is increasing. The legacy of decades of authoritarian governments, conflicts and military rule presents huge challenges in issues of governance and impunity. "CAFOD welcomes the fact that Britain will continue to play a distinctive role in the elimination of poverty and the building of greater social justice in Latin America." Whilst most counties in Latin America are classed as middle-income, this masks a deep and growing inequality which makes it the most unequal region in the world. More than 47 million people live on less than a dollar a day. CAFOD has worked in Latin America for more than 40 years and has offices in Nicaragua and Bolivia.