Charities blast UK plans to cut aid for war-torn Yemen

LONDON: Over 100 charities, including Oxfam and Save the Children, hit out yesterday at the United Kingdom’s plans to slash by half humanitarian aid to wartorn Yemen, saying it would “destroy” London’s image abroad.

Britain pledged £87 million for Yemen at an international donors’ conference this week, about half the amount it offered last year.

The move, which has been condemned across Britain’s political spectrum, follows the government’s decision last year to cut foreign aid commitment from 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product to 0.5 per cent.

“History will not judge this nation kindly if the government chooses to step away from the people in Yemen and thus destroy the UK’s global reputation as a country that steps up to help those most in need,” the 101 signatories wrote in an open letter.

The charities called on the government to reinstate the 0.7 per cent commitment to international aid, saying cuts were being made with “no transparency, consultation or meaningful strategy”.

Oxfam chief executive Danny Sriskandarajah highlighted Britain’s decision to continue international arms sales despite criticism from humanitarian organisations and campaigners.

“The UK’s refusal to halt arms sales that are fuelling the conflict is immoral,” he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended his government’s decision to continue selling arms to Saudi Arabia, which leads the coalition fighting the Houthi rebels in Yemen, despite a US freeze on its weapons’ exports.

A letter leaked to the Open Democracy website has shown Britain will cut foreign aid programmes by more than a half in some of the nations worst-hit by conflict. The internal discussions show Syria faces a 67 per cent cut in UK aid, Somalia 60 per cent and Sudan 59 per cent.