"While the Foreign Secretary has repeatedly stated that fragile and conflict-affected countries will be prioritised and protected [...
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] cuts to countries such as Afghanistan, DRC, Myanmar, Somalia and Syria tell a different story," said Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond.
Greenhill emphasized the potential long-term humanitarian consequences of the reductions.
"These countries are already enduring conflict or facing heightened risks of instability.
Cutting support now is short-sighted and risks undermining hard-won progress, deepening poverty and driving further insecurity," said Greenhill.
Government officials defended the distribution of remaining bilateral aid allocations during parliamentary proceedings.
"We will prioritise bilateral overseas development assistance (ODA) where humanitarian needs are most acute," said Baroness Chapman, former Minister for Development.
Chapman noted the concentration of risks in fragile areas.
"Poverty, insecurity and climate risks are increasingly concentrated in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS)," said Chapman.
Despite government statements, development advocates maintained that the trajectory reflects policy choices prioritizing other fiscal commitments.
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"These statistics aren’t surprising or an accident – but they are the devastating result of the political decisions taken by a Labour Government to de-prioritise support for the world’s poorest," said Tim Ingram, Head of UK Advocacy at WaterAid.
