UK Government is effectively creating a death-trap for many

WaterAid reponds to report of UK Government stopping some new aid payments over concerns that relief work in Ukraine will breach 0.5% spending cap:

Bernard Aryeetey, International Affairs Director at WaterAid, said:

“People are starving as the world faces one of the biggest droughts in decades in the Horn of Africa, meanwhile the fight against COVID-19 still rages.

“By stopping new aid payments over concerns that humanitarian work in Ukraine will breach the 0.5% spending cap, the UK Government is effectively creating a death-trap for many in some of the most deprived communities across the globe.

“Now is not the time to choose between food and water for a girl in Lviv at the expense of one in Lilongwe.

“These are unprecedented times and, understandably, the domestic cost of living crisis and conflict in Ukraine are the Government’s focus. But it must act now and return to its manifesto commitment of spending 0.7% of gross national income on aid, instead of turning its backs on millions of vulnerable people across the rest of the globe.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

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