NJ you have confirmed all that i thought about whilst looking through the responses, and as to whoever said something about education early on, is wrong. Education is always advocated in the western world as the way forward, to a better life, no we don't have drought, not in that way, but surely if people are better educated, perhaps they will be able to solve some of the more pressing problems for themselves. Birth control should surely be on the agenda, no one can sustain life in many of these places, as said, and carrying on having more babies many of whom will perish seems cruel.
Giving money over the many years, by whichever method, government, charities, doesn't seem to have made a major impact on many people's lives in Africa. I am not suggesting that Britain doesn't help, but endless streams of cash, how much actually goes to help those most in need. It is everyone's choice or not to give aid, Britain donates as do many nations, but that isn't the only answer, because if it was, they wouldn't be in this situation.