I FIND it inconceivable that the government have committed £200 million in foreign aid to the ongoing crisis in South Sudan and Somalia.

This on top of more than £12bn in foreign aid committed annually (calculated by 0.7 of the UKs gross national income.) We are one of only six countries out of the 28 NATO membership to meet this commitment annually. Surely if the other 22 member states of NATO fulfilled their commitment, we would not have to commit extra funds for such humane tragedies?

As yet, not one other nation has committed to extra foreign aid for this humanitarian disaster.

Yet again I feel we are being made the mugs of the world as we, the tax payer, carry the financial burden for most of the world’s wealthiest nations.

How can our Government allow this to happen?

Our NHS is on its knees and significant council tax rises are on the horizon to prop up the shortfall in social care funding.

We are in crisis and substantial funding is critical for these situations to be addressed.

The Government neglects the needs of our people for others.

Stephen Smith, Darlington