Britain will send more than £300million to countries in Africa and the Middle East in an effort to reduce the number of migrants fleeing to Europe, the Government announced today.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the growing migrant crisis in Calais was proof that 'the world's problems touch our lives here in Britain'.

She said the alternative to spending international aid was 'ever-growing migrant flows' into Europe and Britain.

A vessel in distress and packed with migrants is brought alongside one of HMS Bulwark's Landing Craft in the Mediterranean

The Government hopes millions of pouinds in extra funding will reduce the number of migrants (pictured above in Calais yesterday) trying to get to Britain

Ms Greening announced aid programmes worth £217million in Africa would help 2.5million refugees in the countries that the majority of migrants are travelling though.

This aid will be spent in South Sudan, Kenya, Sudan, Central African Republic and Nigeria.

An extra £100million will be spent to help Syrian refugees in Lebanon. This includes £20million to help Syrian children go to school this September.

Ms Greening said Britain needed to spend money in Africa making it more attractive for people to stay – 'using international development to reduce the numbers seeking a better life in Europe'.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said Tunisian beach massacre (ISIS gunman Abu Yahya al-Qayrawani pictured) was proof that 'the world's problems touch our lives here in Britain'

She said: 'We have to tackle instability and lack of opportunity in the world's most vulnerable countries, from Sudan to Syria, Nigeria to Lebanon, if we are to get to grips with the problems causing people to flee their homes.

'This new package from the UK will support at least two and a half million refugees and vulnerable people across the main countries that migrants are travelling from and through.

'As well as providing immediate lifesaving aid, it will create jobs and help people find work, improve health services and boost education in the longer term.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening has announced £200m in funding for Africa

'That means people who might otherwise feel they have no choice but to risk their lives by making perilous journeys to escape war or poverty instead have the opportunity to build a better life where they are.'

The new support for Africa includes £30million in support for over 580,000 South Sudanese refugees - providing emergency assistance to stop them making the journey north to Libya and across the Mediterranean to Italy and Greece.

An extra £18 million will be spent on people fleeing the conflict in Central African Republic, including 170,000 refugees living in Cameroon, helping them to meet their basic needs and build their own livelihoods.

Some £4million will be spent helping 75,000 displaced people in north east Nigeria and £38.7million to support vulnerable people in Sudan.

An extra £15 million will be sent to Kenya for the 533,000 refugees living in camps - helping to provide food, water and sanitation.

The new support for Syria includes £20million to help vaccinate nearly 430,000 children.