Mordaunt to break ‘ridiculous’ aid rules for disasters

THE foreign aid budget will be used to fund disaster relief for people devastated by hurricanes in British overseas territories, the International Development Secretary has announced.

Penny Mordaunt said it was “ridiculous” that countries hit by natural disasters did not qualify for aid because in some cases they were deemed too wealthy. Last year, the Government was forced to find £57million in additional funding to help overseas territories, including Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, after they were devastated by Hurricane Irma.

Ms Mordaunt has now instructed her department to fund disaster relief from its own budget in future – even if it technically breaches international aid rules.