The Oxfam Chief has stated that tens of thousands of people will die due to the UK’s decision to go back on their promise of providing 0.7% of gross national income on official development assistance. 

In response to the pandemic, the government decided to reduce the funding for foreign aid from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income (this is the total amount of money earned by a nation's people and businesses). This is the first time since 2013 that the UK will not meet the United Nations recommended target.

One of the programs being affected by these cuts is The United Nations Global Family Planning Program which has experienced a cut of 85%. This program includes the provision of contraceptives, cervical cancer screening, HVI support and STI treatment. This funding would have helped prevent an estimated 14.6 million unintended pregnancies and 4.3 million unsafe abortions.

In addition to this, there is going to be a 40% slash to funding for girls’ education and an 80% cut to funding for overseas water and sanitation projects (even though hygiene plays an essential part in stopping the spread of COVID-19).

In response to criticisms that the decision was an attempt to attract ‘red-wall’ constituencies to the Conservative party, Rishi Sunak (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) has claimed the cut was necessary to save money and that it was just ‘temporary.’ The full extent of this budget cut can not yet be seen however we are starting to see how these projects are being affected.

The Conservative party has claimed that this cut is necessary to save money as part of the COVID-19 response and that it is only 'temporary.' However, there have been criticisms of the decisions which argue that the decision was made as an attempt to attract 'red-wall' constituencies.