In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and despite promoting hand-washing as a key protection against the virus, a leaked memo by FCDO minister Wendy Morton predicted the cut off of 80% in the UK bilateral aid budget for water, sanitation and hygiene (‘Wash’).
This comes in a wider climate of important cuts on foreign aid to give priority to domestic spendings due to the effects of the pandemic on the British economy. Last April, the government announced that it would cut UK aid spending from the 0.7% of national income promised in 2015 to just 0.5% - which amounts to a reduction of more than £4bn. More than 200 charities, including WaterAid and Oxfam, had bemoaned this ‘tragic blow’ on humanitarian aid in a joint statement. This prediction further worsens the concerns of the UK charity sector, currently working more than ever to save lives across the world.
Impact on Human Rights
According to WaterAid, 10 million people could lose access to their most basic human rights: the access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
This figure is all the more concerning as clean water is recognised as key in saving lives and helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 - and many more respiratory infections by the DFID itself (now FCDO). NGOs have already announced the cancellation of projects that were due to start in the upcoming months.
While the UK has successfully reversed its infection rate following the 4-months lockdown and a massive vaccination campaign, poorer countries - already dependent on international aid - are fighting COVID-19 with increasingly limited access to vaccines and PPE/oxygen supplies. Head of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that the world is ‘at the brink of a catastrophic moral failure’ with the poorest countries bearing the brunt.
Leader in Aid?
The UK prides itself in being one of the countries which contributes the most to international development and aid. And indeed, UK Aid has permitted access to clean water and better sanitation and hygiene to millions of people every year. In 2019, the country was also one of only five countries which met the 0.7% aid target - with France at 0.4% and the USA at 0.2%.
This year in particular, the UK is hosting the G7 Summit in June and the COP26 UN Climate Change Convention in November. The drastic cuts orchestrated by the government contradicts its ostensible leadership and instead sheds light on the country’s withdrawal from collective solidarity deeply needed to tackle global challenges.
At a time where global health has never been so crucial, we have also seen how Wash issues concern us all, particularly how access to clean water to wash our hands should not be taken for granted. The UK has always been in a position to help and, while British people have suffered great loss in terms of human life and economic growth, it should not be an excuse to prevent other people from getting the support they require to be safe from health pandemics, conflicts and climate change.
We can only hope that these cuts will be temporary and that policy trend will be reversed as restrictions are lifted and the economy rebounds back.
To that end, you can help protect the human rights of millions of people by emailing Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs, to urge the Government to reconsider the drastic cuts to the UK's support for Wash support at this critical time. Simply follow the link and take action!