Government cut a catastrophic blow to aid budget at worst possible time

Responding, Rose Caldwell, Chief Executive of Plan International UK, said: 

This is a truly catastrophic blow to an aid budget that has already been cut to shreds. It also comes at the worst possible time: humanitarian needs are at unprecedented levels, record numbers are suffering without enough to eat, and cuts to USAID are having a devastating impact on communities around the world. The UK should be stepping up and showing its commitment to overseas aid. Instead, it is adding to the suffering. 

“Today’s cut will divert funding from some of the most devastating humanitarian crises in the world. It will mean less support for the vast numbers of people suffering in Gaza and Lebanon. It will mean less for the millions stricken by conflict and hunger in Sudan. And it will mean less for girls affected by poverty, violence, and crises around the world. 

“In their election manifesto, the Government committed to returning the UK aid budget to 0.7% of GNI, yet this is clearly now a broken promise. We urge the Government to immediately reconsider this disastrous decision and refocus spending on those areas for which the aid budget was intended.”