Action needed for 'fragile states'

Action needed for 'fragile states'

The international community needs to reduce the future risk of conflict and political instability around the world, according to a new report.

Otherwise it will continue to pay the high human and financial costs of reacting to repeated crises, says the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.

The report 'Investing in Prevention: an international strategy to manage risks of instability and improve crisis response' is published today for consideration by the Government.

It was commissioned to address the challenges posed by 'fragile and unstable countries'.

Proposing a comprehensive international strategy to address the challenge, the report outlines policy initiatives which could make a 'significant impact' over the next five years.

It argues that major crises are causing untold human suffering, saying that the risk of instability is likely to increase in the future - particularly as HIV/AIDS and climate change affect already unstable countries.

Rebuilding failed and conflict-ridden states is an expensive and long-term task.

So preventing conflict in the first place is much more cost effective, it says, while acknowledging that prevention is 'complex.'

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