The members of the Group of Eight have agreed on a program to spend more than $60 billion to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa, Germany's development minister, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, said Friday. Between now and 2015, the United States will provide about half of the money, and Germany will contribute about $5.4 billion.

Wieczorek-Zeul said on state ZDF television, "That has been agreed upon."

"The situation [in Africa] is simply so dramatic," she said.

The G-8 also said it will be working to promote trade, education, peacekeeping and health care in the country.

According to Bloomberg.com, Aditi Sharma, the international HIV/AIDS coordinator for Actionaid, said, "It looks like a big number, but it's all smoke and mirrors. However you cut the pie, it's far short of our needs.''

Actionaid and other groups praised German Chancellor Angela Merkel for working to help decrease poverty in Africa.

Merkel told reporters Friday, "We on the G-8 side are obliged to do what we promised to do. We are fully aware of our responsibilities and will stand by our commitments.''

Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who was standing next to her, said, "Africa expects the G-8 to deliver."