From: Oxfam International
The unregulated sale of arms drives corruption, saps vital funds from coffers, and causes damage far beyond the immediate effects of stoking conflict and violence, says a report released Wednesday by an international humanitarian organization.

Global commitments to reduce poverty and improve lives cannot be reached unless the international community makes urgent progress towards controlling the arms trade, according to a new Oxfam report released today.
The report “Shooting Down the MDGs”, says many countries will not reach their Millennium Development Goals because of irresponsible arms sales. It shows these cause damage far beyond the immediate effects of stoking conflict and armed violence.
Many countries allow weapons sales without considering the potential impact on poverty. Some governments also buy arms at a high cost, putting them into debt and squeezing the amounts of money left to fight poverty. The lack of transparency and accountability in the arms trade means it is easily open to corruption and waste, again draining countries of money that could be used to improve ordinary peoples’ lives.
Continue reading Irresponsible arms transfers wrecking attempts to reduce poverty