Irish overseas aid agencies are calling on the Government to immediately increase funding for programmes combating Aids, TB and malaria in Third-World countries.
Charities are among more than 420 organisations to sign an international appeal calling on wealthy countries to increase funding for the global effort to fight the deadly infectious diseases.
International human rights and justice campaigners including Bono, former president Mary Robinson, Bishop Desmond Tutu and George Soros have also supported the call.
The international charities are asking donor countries to increase their funding to the Global Fund, established more than three years ago, to $3.6 billion (€2.9 billion), from $1.2 billion.
Under this proposal, Ireland would have to increase its funding from $11 million per year to $35 million in 2006 and $40 million in 2007.
The Irish charities umbrella organisation, Dóchas, said the call was necessary to stop global aid falling below its essential annual targets.
"Ireland has played a key role in the establishment of the fund, and has provided nearly €40 million to the Fund to date.
"Our Government is keen to see the fund continue its good work, and for the fund to be able to do so, it now needs new money," Dóchas director Hans Zomer said.
"Without immediate action, the Global Fund will fall dangerously short of its fundraising targets for 2005, 2006 and 2007," he added.
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