Tim Aldred, the Fairtrade Foundation’s Head of Policy, said: ‘We are very disappointed by this deep cut to UK aid. It falls at a time when hundreds of thousands are losing work in some of the poorest parts of the world, and extreme poverty and hunger are rising dramatically.
‘In the UK up to 15 percent of our food comes from countries in Asia, Africa and South America, including from some of the world’s poorest countries. The pandemic has exposed the fragility of many of these food supply chains. Vulnerable farmers around the world face profound threats to their livelihoods now and the effects could last for years.
‘The government must of course meet important needs at home robustly. The UK’s own food security, public health and economic recovery will be linked to a comprehensive global response to the pandemic, and financing short and longer term needs in the poorest parts of the world will be critical to achieving this.
‘UK aid should continue to pull its weight in delivering a fair and green global recovery, prioritising the poorest people and meeting urgent needs for assistance.’
ENDS
For more information please contact media@fairtrade.org.uk