Save the Children report "a development wake up call"

18 February 2008

Gordon Brown has warned that the world is failing in its commitment to reduce child mortality by two thirds by 2015.

In a statement released in response to a new report from Save the Children, the Prime Minister said that the fact that 10 million children under the age of 5 die every year means that the world faces "yet another development wake up call".

The report from Save the Children warns that infant life expectancy is now heavily dependent on location, with the infant mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa higher than elsewhere.

Mr Brown said:

"This year we have launched the MDG ' call to action '. In a special meeting in September the United Nations governments, businesses, civil society organisations, Non Governmental Organisations and faith groups will convene to mark the halfway point to the MDGs, and agree an action plan to regain the ground we have lost in this race to save lives.

"This is why I am pleased that Save the Children is launching a campaign to keep this issue high on the agenda - we can and we must do more."

• Save the Children (new window)

Read the PM's full statement:

Every year around the world, 10 million children under the age of 5 die, predominately in our developing nations.

This shocking fact, as documented in Save the Children's report, is a clear indication that the world faces a yet another development wake up call.

Half way to our 2015 deadline, the world's nations are off track to reach their Millenium Development Goal (MDG) to reduce child mortality by two thirds. This year we have launched the MDG ' call to action '.

In a special meeting in September the United Nations governments, businesses, civil society organisations, Non Governmental Organisations and faith groups will convene to mark the halfway point to the MDGs, and agree an action plan to regain the ground we have lost in this race to save lives.

This is why I am pleased that Save the Children is launching a campaign to keep this issue high on the agenda - we can and we must do more.

Image copyright Reuters.