This will cost lives'

Western countries are slashing global development funding, despite warnings that the health and security consequences will be felt worldwide for generations to come

- Kat Lay

KEIR STARMER PROMISED at the UN last September that the UK would "be a leading contributor to development".

Just five months later few expected an announcement that could result in UK aid spending falling to its lowest level this century.

Overseas development aid will fall from 0.5% of the UK's gross national income to 0.3% - a cut of about £6bn ($7.6bn) to pay for increased defence spending. The cut will have dire consequences, according to the groups delivering much of that aid. Describing it as a betrayal of poorer countries, Dr Alvaro Bermejo, director general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: "This will cost lives." Anneliese Dodds, the UK international development minister, resigned over the decision last Friday.

UK aid funds projects offering humanitarian assistance and health services, as well as work with communities suffering the frontline effects of the climate crisis and conflict.

The announcement follows the Trump administration's sweeping cuts to US aid, which, among other crushing effects on the world's poorest people, have resulted in abrupt halts to life-saving HIV drug programmes in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Humanitarian work in refugee camps, hospitals and healthcare centres has stopped in many of the countries helped by USAid, while funding for groups working on the frontline of the climate crisis has vanished. Human rights and independent journalism organisations also face closure.

It is also part of a wider trend - a pattern of cuts to aid spending in countries that have been leading donors, including Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Canada looks as if it will follow suit, if its Conservative party wins forthcoming elections.