LONDON (The Guardian) –
British Ministers have been accused of choosing the “worst moment in history” to slash the foreign aid budget, as provisional figures showed that UK overseas humanitarian funding was cut by more than half last year.
MPs and charity campaigners say the aid budget urgently needs to be increased to cope with the Ukraine conflict and the risk of famine in Africa. Up to 23 million people face acute hunger in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia due to drought.
The UN has warned the Ukraine crisis risks tipping 1.7 billion people – one-fifth of the global population – into poverty, destitution and hunger. The government said last week it now intends to boost humanitarian aid by giving less money to international organizations and focusing on direct aid from the UK.
Sarah Champion MP, Labour chair of the Commons international development committee, said, “It would be hard to consider a worse moment in history for the government to be cutting its foreign aid budget.”
“We are the only member of the rich country G7 grouping to be doing so. It is having a damaging effect on our international standing – and the survival chances of some of the poorest people on the planet.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a controversial reduction of aid spending from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income in November 2020.
UK direct humanitarian aid to foreign countries was £744mn last year, compared with £1.53bn in 2020, a cut of 51%, according to the most recent provisional UK aid figures. UK official development assistance was nearly £11.5bn last year, compared with £14.48bn in 2020, a fall of 21%.
Separate figures published in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) annual report last year revealed direct UK aid and planned aid to Ethiopia fell from £241mn in 2020/21 to £108mn in 2021/22, a cut of 55%; aid to Kenya fell from £67mn to £41mn, a cut of 39%; and aid to Somalia fell from £121mn to £71mn, a cut of 41%.
One of the largest global humanitarian crises is in Yemen, devastated by eight years of Saudi-led war. About 24 million people need help, including nearly 13 million children. UK aid to Yemen fell from £221mn 2020/21 to £82mn in 2021/22, a cut of 63%.
Sam Nadel, Oxfam’s head of government relations, said, “The government is cutting aid at a time we have war in Ukraine, the COVID pandemic and millions of people in Africa on the brink of starvation. It’s the most horrific timing. It’s also shortsighted because aid helps tackle global challenges, which helps the UK in the long term.”
Ministers have announced £220mn in humanitarian and development aid for Ukraine, putting more pressure on the reduced UK aid budget.