Ministers have been accused of choosing the “worst moment in history” to cut the foreign aid budget, as preliminary figures show that the UK’s overseas humanitarian funding has been cut by more than half last year.
MEPs and philanthropists say the aid budget needs to be increased urgently to tackle the conflict in Ukraine and the risk of famine in Africa. Up to 23 million people are facing severe famine in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia due to drought.
The UN has warned that the crisis in Ukraine risks throwing 1.7 billion people – one-fifth of the world’s population – into poverty, destitution and hunger. The government said last week that it now intends to boost humanitarian aid by giving less money to international organizations and focusing on direct aid from the United Kingdom.
Western officials reportedly fear that Vladimir Putin is “arming” global food supplies. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of the world’s wheat and barley exports.
MP Sarah Champion, chair of Labor in the International Development Committee of the Municipality, said: “It would be difficult to think of a worse moment in the history of the government to cut its foreign aid budget.
“We are the only member of the G7 group of rich countries to do this. This has a detrimental effect on our international situation – and the chances of survival of some of the poorest people on the planet.
Western officials reportedly fear that Vladimir Putin is “arming” global food supplies. Photo: Mikhail Metzel / AP
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a controversial reduction in aid spending from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income in November 2020.
The UK’s direct humanitarian aid to foreign countries was £ 744 million last year, compared with £ 1.53 billion in 2020, down 51%, according to the latest provisional figures for British aid. The UK’s official development aid was nearly £ 11.5 billion last year, up from £ 14.48 billion in 2020, down 21%.
Some data released in the Office for External Relations, Community and Development’s (FCDO) annual report last year reveal direct aid from the United Kingdom, and planned aid to Ethiopia has fallen from £ 241 million in 2020/21 to £ 108 million in 2021/22, which is a decrease of 55%; aid to Kenya fell from £ 67 million to £ 41 million, a reduction of 39%; and aid to Somalia fell from £ 121 million to £ 71 million, a 41% reduction.
One of the biggest global humanitarian crises is in Yemen, ravaged by eight years of civil war. About 24 million people need help, including nearly 13 million children. UK aid to Yemen fell from £ 221 million in 2020/21 to £ 82 million in 2021/22, down 63%.
Sam Nadel, head of relations with the Oxfam government, said: “The government is cutting aid at a time when we have a war in Ukraine, a pandemic of Covid and millions of people in Africa on the brink of starvation. This is the most horrifying moment. It is also short-sighted because aid is helping to tackle global challenges, which is helping the UK in the long run.
Ministers announced £ 220m in humanitarian and development aid to Ukraine, putting more pressure on the UK’s reduced aid budget.
Kate Munro, head of advocacy at the charity Action Against Hunger, said aid funding was needed to return 0.7% of GNI and ministers urgently needed to announce a new aid package for the millions starving in East Africa. “It saves money to act early in a crisis,” she said.
The charity will attend a parliamentary event this week for a campaign to help more in East Africa. He called for a £ 750 million in government funding, similar to the amount provided in 2017, when East Africa was also hit by drought and widespread famine was avoided.
Liz Truss, the foreign minister, last week announced a new international development strategy, with help aimed at achieving the UK’s foreign policy goals. More money will be spent on direct aid from the United Kingdom, not international.
Last week, Champion described the new strategy as “transforming existing slogans”, but welcomed its focus on women and girls. She said Aid for Trade policy was dangerous and could distort the main goal of international aid to support the poor and most vulnerable.
FCDO said: “Accelerating our life-saving humanitarian work to prevent the world’s worst forms of human suffering is one of the top priorities set by the Foreign Minister in the UK’s International Development Strategy this week.
“We will prioritize humanitarian funding at £ 3 billion over the next three years to remain a world leader in crisis response, including in Africa.
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