Christine Allen, Director of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), says:
“Today is a sad anniversary for the UK. A year ago, aid cuts that were more extreme than any other G7 country including the US left our international reputation in tatters.
"The devastating effects of less UK aid can be seen in countries like DRC and South Sudan: children going hungry; women being denied shelter and access to safe spaces; once-thriving communities unable to rebuild after disaster. And this is only the tip of the iceberg; the real impact of these cuts will be felt more keenly in the new financial year.
"Throughout the 2025 Jubilee, Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis highlighted the need for countries to tackle the gross injustices keeping people in poverty. At CAFOD we’re continuing to call for concrete action on global debt, which could transform millions of lives overnight and enable countries to invest in their own development priorities.
"As the UK prepares to host the Global Partnerships Conference in May and take on leadership of the G20 in November, this year is a real opportunity to establish Britain as a superpower in global finance and restore our moral standing at a critical moment.”
Notes to editors
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Rosalind Mayfield, CAFOD Media Officer
Melissa Nethersole, CAFOD Media Officer
CAFOD’s out-of-hours media line
CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and part of Caritas Internationalis, working with communities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America to fight poverty and injustice, including those worst hit by climate change. The agency works with people in need, regardless of race, gender, religion or nationality.
Urge the government to support sustainable ways of growing food
Urge the Minister for International Development, Baroness Chapman, to support sustainable food systems, which would make a huge difference to people's ability to feed themselves.