More than 30 Start Network members have supported a letter to the UK Prime Minister, raising our concern over the decision to merge the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office because of its potentially devastating consequences for humanitarian aid.
Start Network supports the numerous pleas from aid agencies, think tanks, charities, NGOs, the broad humanitarian sector, and civil society organisations, to the Prime Minister to reassess this decision.
Commenting Christina Bennett, CEO of Start Network said:
“The Prime Minister’s decision to merge DfID with the FCO is both unwise and ill-timed with potentially devastating consequences for humanitarian aid. It is unwise because it risks putting the lives of people suffering from conflict and disasters at the mercy of politics, and risks compromising the effective emergency response work DfID is known for worldwide. It is ill-timed for distracting key government departments from responding to #coronavirus, the largest humanitarian emergency in a generation, reducing or redirecting UK humanitarian aid at a time when it is needed most. Independent humanitarian aid is in the British national interest, but only if supported by the type of accountable leadership and expertise DfID provides."
Read Start Network's letter to the UK Prime Minister.