Foreign Aid Cuts

 Some of the poorest and most conflict-ridden countries in the world will have their UK aid programmes cut by more than half.

The cuts include the aid programme to Somalia by 60% and to South Sudan by 59%. 

The planned cut for Syria is reported at 67% and for Libya it is 63%. 

Nigeria’s aid programme would be cut by 58%.

The bare percentages include cuts of 50% in the west Balkans, and 60% in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

UK funding in the Sahel is listed as falling from £340m to £23m.

James Wani, Christian Aid’s country director in South Sudan, said: “Cuts on the scale being reported couldn’t come at a worse time for a country in crisis. The peace talks are at an extremely delicate stage, and FCDO funding has been crucial to Christian Aid’s work with local churches – as one of the most trusted institutions – in ending the conflict. Without funding for peacebuilding, the talks risk failure. And without peace, development and humanitarian work can’t succeed. People in South Sudan cannot afford for that to happen.”

Leak reveals UK Foreign Office discussing aid cuts of more than 50% | Foreign policy | The Guardian