Yemen and South Sudan: Humanitarian Crises Debate
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
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Yemen and South Sudan: Humanitarian Crises
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts(1 year ago)
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)
My Lords, considering the level of the humanitarian crisis in both Yemen and Sudan, will the UK Government now consider reinstating the overseas aid budget, which was reduced some two years ago to 0.5% of GNI, and returning it to the original amount of 0.7%?
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I have often said from the Dispatch Box that we seek to return to the 0.7%, but notwithstanding the reduction in 2022-23, the UK Government have continued to provide emergency food aid for an estimated close to 200,000 people, including daily water and sanitation provision in South Sudan. We have continued our support and at the UN-led humanitarian pledging conference in March 2023 retained £88 million of aid to Yemen. We remain amongst some of the primary donors when it comes to bilateral support. The difficulty on the ground, as highlighted by my noble friend Lady Anelay, has impeded vital aid reaching the most vulnerable.