You are a hope-bringer in 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 is one element of HART’s wider campaign against the cuts. Sam Mason, CEO of HART, recently published an op-ed, “Cruel Britannia: UK Aid Cuts Reveal PM’s Indifference”. HART hears first-hand testimonials from forgotten conflicts and communities on the margins. Since 2004, HART has witnessed the devastating impact of the withdrawal of lifesaving aid and and the subsequent breakdown of in-country programmes. So, it is on behalf of our local partners that Sam asks the Government to “lead with humanity” and rethink the cuts.
Lord Alton of Liverpool, HART Patron and Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, has independently joined the call for the reversal of aid cuts:
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.
As conflict intensifies and as humanitarian crises deepen, we cannot afford to 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.