Autumn Budget: CARE International UK warns of 'stealth cuts' to UK aid

"Despite no mention of the aid budget in the Chancellor’s speech today, hidden between the lines were stealth cuts which will put lives at risk all over the world.

"For years money has been siphoned from the aid budget to offset an overstretched asylum system, pitting vulnerable communities against each other, and resulting in record cuts to overseas aid. Without investment to counter these costs, lives are at risk, communities are in limbo and the Government's ‘Britain is back’ message feels nothing more than a hollow slogan.

“Conflicts in places like Gaza and Sudan are spiralling, climate-induced disasters are worsening, and women and girls globally are bearing the brunt of the catastrophic consequences. There could not be a worse time for this Government to oversee UK aid being slashed to a record low.

“We know that cuts to UK aid will hit those who need it most the hardest. The 2021 aid cuts were felt most intensely by women and girls in places like Yemen, Syria and East Africa. Funding for gender equality was slashed in half, leading to the closure of vital programmes as well as a 40% decrease in funding to combat violence against women and girls. We cannot afford to see losses like that again.

“The Chancellor today expressed her hope that there would be no ceiling on the ambition, hopes or dreams of girls and young women everywhere. We urge the Government to back this up with real action. Not only must the Government get aid back on track to 0.7%, it must also ensure women and girls do not pay the price for its own failure to curb domestic spending in the meantime. We urge the Government to ringfence 20% of UK aid for programming with gender equality as a primary focus; protecting women and girls against cuts and demonstrating its commitment to a more equal world for all.”