WITH reference to Hugh Pender’s letter (HAS, Aug 21) in which he lambasts this country for holding the Olympics while children starve in Africa, I would like to point out that Africa has 69 per cent of the world’s arable land, plus no frost to destroy crops.

In addition, many African countries have enjoyed billions in overseas aid and had a number of loans written off.

The root cause of the starvation is the birthrate – sometimes as many as ten kids to a family by multiple partners, plus corrupt rulers keeping most of the foreign aid for themselves.

I note that Mr Pender says nothing of this in his diatribe.

Mrs S Silthorpe, Darlington.