George Graham, Executive Director of Global Impact at Save the Children, says:
“The UK Government has a responsibility to protect children from the damage of UK aid cuts by prioritising their needs, rights, and futures in every funding decision. At precisely the moment children need more support, these decisions will leave the UK with less room to act and they will hit the most vulnerable the hardest. Even with a constrained budget, protecting children must remain non-negotiable.
“Save the Children welcomes the focus on innovation and a move to stronger partnerships, but these will be much harder to achieve with a reduced aid budget. The UK can’t expect countries to stand on their own two feet when they are having the rug pulled from under them.
“We’ve already seen the devastating impact UK aid cuts have had over the past 12 months. From shuttering anti-FGM programmes in Somalia to closing education projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, these cuts are harming children. Deeper reductions are set to come just as global conflicts intensify and humanitarian needs surge around the world. The government's efforts to present this as a positive story about improving the impact of spending will ring hollow for children losing access to lifesaving healthcare, education and protection."
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