- The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Britain's plan to "modernise" its aid programme, involving significant cuts, risks exacerbating humanitarian crises and destabilising vulnerable regions.
- The WFP criticised the government's portrayal of deep aid reductions as a strategic overhaul, arguing it masks cuts to humanitarian funding at a time of escalating global need.
- The agency highlighted that the strategy risks overlooking immediate crises in fragile states where traditional grant aid remains crucial, and that declining funding reverses development gains.
- Funding to the WFP from the UK has been cut by nearly a third, from $610million in 2024 to $435 million last year, as part of wider reductions to the UK's overseas development assistance.
- Charities like Save the Children UK, the ONE Campaign, and ActionAid UK echoed these concerns, stating that the cuts are costing lives, undermining development goals, and impacting women and girls' rights.
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