“People are dying of disease, and a small amount of money from us could stop that.”
Indeed it could, Gromit. What it also does in the current circumstances is to condemn those saved (and the many children they will produce) to a dreadful life that will almost certainly be cut short by some other disease, or thirst or starvation or more probably all three. As I said (much) earlier, this situation has not arisen since last week, it has been evident for decades. I see nothing in the plans of the contributing nations which will in any way alter this situation and I believe it is not only foolish but actually cruel to continue to sustain lives in this manner.
The other issues that have been raised in this question such as whether the UK can afford it (I happen to think we cannot) and whether other nations, particularly some African ones can (I happen to believe they can) is subsidiary to the main argument. That argument – which is whether it is right to address the problem by simply and continually chucking money at it to provide emergency aid – has never been properly aired.
I’m afraid your contention “ Yet you begrudge saving a life.” is disappointing in itself. With one or two exceptions the arguments put forward here against simply going down the same road time after time have been well thought out and properly put I don’t think anybody begrudges saving a life and it is disingenuous of you to suggest that they do. Surely you can see that the current strategy is helping nobody in the long term, particularly those most dreadfully affected. Yes I know, many of them have no long term future but our inappropriate efforts are not providing that. All we are providing is a bit of short term relief which will simply condemn the wretched souls to a bit more agony. (As an example, the UK's current grant is expected to provide aid for 1.3m people for three months. What happens to them after that?). It really is no argument to suggest that they are procreating because they have such a high infant mortality rate. It's rather like countering the argument against cats having too many kittens because, as so many of them end up in a sack at the bottom of the canal, it is necessary to keep the numbers up.
Yes, those countries that can help (such as Saudi Arabia, Equatorial Guinea, Singapore, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and, dare I say it, China and India to name but a few who seem to be conspicuous by their absence from the list of contributors) should. But the help needs to be appropriate and not designed to simply prolong suffering.
I don’t really think I can say any more.