Funding cut for water, hygiene concerning
Britain's aid watchdog has raised concerns over the UK's decision to cut funding by two thirds for its water and hygiene initiatives for the overseas aid budget, said a press release.
In an assessment of the UK's water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme, it has raised concerns over the initiative to cut budget from £206.5m to an estimated £70 million in 2021, according to a report.
Titled "The UK's changing approach to water, sanitation and hygiene", the report mentioned that the UK's target, under its sustainable development goal (SDG), to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030 is falling far short. So far, progress is lagging well behind these ambitions.
Recent assessments suggest that the rate of progress needs to increase fourfold if the 2030 targets are to be met. As well as the financial gap, the SDG is threatened by unsustainable water usage, pollution of water sources and the accelerating impacts of climate change, with more frequent and more severe droughts and flooding undermining sustainable WASH services.
Tim Wainwright, chief executive of WaterAid UK, said, "The consequences are potentially devastating; lives unfulfilled or even cut short as girls and women have to walk further to collect water, or drop out of school, and diseases spread more easily, while the climate crisis rages. The UK still has a chance -- through its forthcoming International Development Strategy -- to improve the lives of more of the poorest people and regain its position as a world leader on this issue."
Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh, said the foreign aid has significant positive impacts for the people in Bangladesh, which has also recognised the role that WASH can play in supporting gender equity and improving health outcomes for women and children. Funding cuts mean most vulnerable people are being neglected.
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