Bring hope to forgotten conflicts
6 March 2025
Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) has joined a coalition of over 100 charities to oppose cuts to UK aid. In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, we warn that slashing the aid budget will “cost lives” and “destroy Labour’s legacy on international development”.
The UK aid budget will be cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income, which amounts to a reduction of around £6bn. It follows a similar move in the United States, where President Trump has imposed a 90-day freeze on US assistance.
No government should balance its books on the backs of the most marginalised people.
The open letter comes as Sam Mason, CEO of HART, publishes an op-ed urging the Prime Minister to “lead with humanity” and reverse the cuts. Lord Alton of Liverpool, HART Patron and Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, has independently raised similar concerns:
Yes it is vital to find more national resources for defence. But it doesn’t have to be at the expense of the world’s poorest.
HART is eyewitness to humanitarian crises in forgotten conflicts, seeing first-hand the impact of war and famine in hard-to-access communities. We see time and again the devastating impact of the withdrawal of aid and the subsequent breakdown of frontline programmes.
As crises deepen worldwide, we must not turn inwards. Strides made in international development will be reversed, if we do not maintain momentum. Progress is not promised: it is made through long-term partnerships and a shared commitment to build sustainably from the grassroots, upwards.
Such unprecedented cuts to aid would send a simple message at home and abroad: human life is dispensable. So, HART joins dozens of other NGOs in asking what kind of legacy will the Labour Government leave? And what kind of legacy are we willing to advocate for?
Photo: The story of PAORINHER is a powerful example of the long-term impact of aid. HART supported PAROINHER as it first opened its doors to young people impacted by HIV, displacement, and conflict in Patongo, Uganda. Now, PAORINHER is a thriving community and educational hub.