The spread of HIV and Aids could be reversed and five million lives saved by the shortfall in promised aid by the G8 countries, according to a new Oxfam report.
Launched a month ahead of the next G8 meeting, in Heiligdamm, Germany, the report says that instead of meeting the target of $50-billion (about R350-billion) annually - set in Scotland, in 2005 - development aid actually fell last year, the first time since 1997.
Ten times more money was being spent by governments on arms, and four times more by America on the war in Iraq. The shortfall in aid by 2010 would be a staggering $30-billion, based on current trends.
The report rejects the assertion that aid doesn't work, saying that especially African governments have increased their spending on the eradication of poverty, and several aid projects have been successful.
"It has helped Tanzania make primary school free, with the result that 3,5 million more children are now in school.
"Increased aid has also helped reduce the number of Tanzanian children dying in their first year of life by almost a third," said the writer of the report, Max Lawson of Oxfam.
"The G8 must prove that its promises were more than empty rhetoric and say when, and how, they will increase aid.
"There can be no excuses - the cost of inaction is too high."
Italy is predicted to be $8,1-billion short on its promises, France $7,6-billion short and Germany $7-billion.
"This is particularly embarrassing for Germany as the chair of this year's summit.
"Chancellor (Angela) Merkel must lead by example and get the G8 back on track to deliver the aid they promised.
"The 40-million people in 36 countries which campaigned in 2005 to end poverty will be watching and demanding action."
Lawson said the target could be reached at a cost of $1,70 a week to every rich-country citizen.
The report also calls on developed countries to drop their pursuit of free-trade agreements, seen as almost always highly detrimental to poor countries.
And it wants closer attention to be paid to the effects of climate change on poor countries.