Life or death for the world’s poorest communities as Britain’s damaging aid cuts announced

Country: World Source: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development CAFOD Director of Advocacy, Neil Thorns, said: “The aid budget and international climate finance are important commitments to our brothers and sisters around the world who are facing increasing climate impacts and conflict and the news today shows the pain that these cuts will cause. “Peace and security in the world will be achieved through tackling poverty, reducing inequality and solving issues which cause destabilisation through diplomacy and dialogue, not through greater spending on defence. “Today is not a good day for the UK’s global reputation, and it’s the wrong time for the government to be breaking its manifesto pledge to be a global climate leader. “When the UK takes over the G20 Presidency later this year it can go some way towards restoring its reputation. We’re in a global debt crisis and the UK has a unique opportunity to show leadership, in reforming financial systems to release funds for countries to invest in their own sustainable development.” “In a shrinking budget the quality of how any remaining money is spent becomes paramount. International Climate Finance (ICF) must maintain – if not surpass – the UK’s strong record on providing interest-free grants. As British International Investment funding is counted as ICF, their work must also become more transparent and accountable on how it’s contributing. “With a greater focus on humanitarian contexts, funding must prioritise support to locally-based organisations, who are best placed and most effective in response.” Why is the UK uniquely positioned to take action on debt? Of all the debt owed by low-income countries to profitable private banks and hedge funds, the vast majority is governed by UK law. UK courts are currently being used by predatory private lenders, to sue debt distressed countries. Many of the countries at risk or already unable to meet unjust debt requirements are the very same ones losing out on aid. The government could change the law tomorrow, to help make the system fairer for the world’s poorest countries who are struggling. Alleviating this burden would be a lifeline for countries in debt-distress, while having zero impact on UK budgets. - Ends - Notes to editors For more information or to request interviews, contact our Media Team: Rosalind Mayfield: rmayfield@cafod.org.uk +44 (0)7425 596 890 Melissa Nethersole: mnethersole@cafod.org.uk +44 (0)7787 716 485 or CAFOD Press Office: pressoffice@cafod.org.uk CAFOD’s 24/7 Media hotline: +44 (0)7919 301 429 2. CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and part of Caritas International, working with communities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America to fight poverty and injustice, including those worst hit by climate change. The agency works with people in need, regardless of race, gender, religion or nationality. Find out more: cafod.org.uk CAFOD is funded mainly by voluntary donations from people in the Catholic community of England and Wales. We also receive funding from fellow Catholic caritas and development agencies, the DEC, Trusts and Foundations, UK and other governments.

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