Cuts to UK aid budget devastating blow for world’s poorest

Responding to the written update by the UK government on the UK aid budget 2021-2022, Lyndall Stein, interim CEO of Elrha, said:

“Cuts to the UK aid budget are a devastating blow for the world’s poorest communities.

At a time when people’s lives are already in crisis because of conflict, disaster, disease, in the midst of a pandemic, these cuts will be catastrophic - and may put future humanitarian efforts to save lives at risk.

In a year when we have witnessed the importance of UK-funded research and the extraordinary hope science and innovation can provide with the development of COVID-19 vaccines, we believe a humanitarian response based on evidence and proven innovation is vital.

At Elrha we work with researchers and innovators in the humanitarian community to find solutions that can deliver better aid. And the robust research we fund creates better health outcomes for people affected by crises. We fear these cuts will reduce their ability to deliver that work at a time when the world needs it most.”

We also signed the joint statement of 200 NGOs, co-coordinated by Bond, condemning the government cuts to the UK aid budget.

;



Banner image: Children walk home from school past damaged buildings in Dar'a Governorate, southern Syria. Photo Credit: AFAK/The HALO Trust

;