The consequences of aid reductions for health and human rights are dire, warns internal assessment
The UK government’s decision to slash foreign aid has raised significant concerns regarding the fate of vulnerable groups, particularly women, as it could result in an alarming increase in preventable deaths. According to an internal assessment from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the aid cuts will lead to higher rates of unsafe abortions and maternal deaths, with hundreds of thousands of women at risk.
Despite some small increases in aid for the year 2023-24, the overall Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget remains well below its pre-2020 levels, after the government reduced it from 0.7% to 0.5% of Gross National Income. This reduction continues to have long-term consequences, particularly on vital programmes that support vulnerable communities globally.
One of the most affected areas is women’s reproductive health, with major reductions to the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health Programme (WISH) in Pan Africa. This cut is expected to result in the prevention of 100,000 fewer unsafe abortions and the loss of over 1,500 maternal lives. Healthcare provisions in war-torn Yemen are also severely reduced, meaning half a million women and children will miss out on life-saving medical attention.
The situation in Afghanistan is especially critical, as the Taliban’s return to power has already curtailed women’s rights. With a 76% cut in aid, the FCDO will be unable to continue critical services for women and girls, leaving them vulnerable to further repression and exclusion.
The FCDO’s own equality impact assessment also reveals a damaging reduction in support for disabled people, religious minorities, and the LGBT+ community, whose access to education, healthcare, and other essential services will be restricted due to these cuts.
While the FCDO has pledged some adjustments, such as increased funding for Afghanistan and Yemen, these measures are seen as insufficient in addressing the scale of the problem.
Sarah Champion, the chairwoman of the International Development Committee, commented on the findings, saying, “The cuts will not only affect women’s health but also cut critical programmes to fight malnutrition and support vulnerable groups, resulting in thousands of avoidable deaths.”
In defence of the cuts, a Foreign Office spokesperson noted that the UK’s aid budget is set to increase to £8.3 billion next year, with a focus on humanitarian crises and protecting vulnerable populations, though the impact on low-income countries will continue to be felt until 2024-25.
