Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Designed to rapidly reduce human suffering, this is temporary assistance comprising disaster relief, food aid, refugee relief and disaster preparedness. It generally involves the provision of material aid, finance and advice to save and preserve lives during emergency situations and the immediate post-emergency rehabilitation.

The science of keeping you healthy, particularly by means of sanitary practices such as washing your hands after using a toilet or latrine and before you handle food.

People who have been forced to flee their homes for reasons such as armed conflict, generalised violence, human rights abuses or other disasters, and who have sought safety elsewhere in the same country.

The IMF has 184 members and works to foster global monetary co-operation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty.

People who have entered legally into a foreign country in order to live there permanently.

If a person is immunised, they are given protection against a particular disease by introducing special substances into the body, often through an injection. UNICEF has immunisation programmes which aim to protect millions of children and young people.

A site or structure (not connected to a main water supply and sewer) designed to receive and dispose of excreta. A pit latrine is a simple pit covered by a slab of wood or concrete with a drop-hole. A “pour-flush” latrine uses water to flush away the excreta into a pit.

This comprises countries assessed as having particularly severe long-term constraints to development. Inclusion is assessed on three main criteria: economic diversity, the quality of life and a GDP per capita under $750. On this basis, as of 14 March 2005 there were 50 LDCs.

Legislation is a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament.

Influencing legislators or other public officials to take action for a specific cause, such as fairer international trade.

A disease of the blood that is spread by mosquitoes, which breed by still water. People who are infected usually have recurring bouts of chills, fever and sweating, often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhoea. Medicines exist to treat malaria and to help prevent it. Other control measures include mosquito nets and other barriers such as draining stagnant water and insecticides. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the under-14 age group.

Weak and in bad health because of a lack of nutritious food or because of a lack of the types of food necessary for good health.

At the UN General Assembly in 2000, governments committed to achieving eight international development goals by 2015, namely:

• eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
• achieving primary education
• promoting gender equality and empowering women
• reducing child mortality,
• improving maternal health
• combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• ensuring environmental sustainability
• developing a global partnership for development

Aid channelled through international bodies (i.e. UN agencies) for use in or on behalf of aid recipient countries. However, where DFID specify the use and destination of the funds, aid channelled through multilateral agencies is often regarded as bilateral aid.

NGOs are private non-profit making bodies, active in development work. To qualify for official support UK NGOs must be registered charities.

A child whose mother and/or father has died.

Orphans and vulnerable children.