Global aid watchdog raised concerns over the UK's decision to cut funding by two thirds for its water and hygiene initiatives of the overseas aid budget.
In an assessment of the UK’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme, concerns were raised over the initiative's budget being cut from £206.5m to an estimated £70 million in 2021, according to a report.
The report titled “The UK’s changing approach to water, sanitation and hygiene” 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 of being met. 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, reads a media statement on Tuesday.
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, it added.
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.”
It needs to restore the aid budget to 0.7 per cent and increase funding for water, sanitation and hygiene alongside technical expertise, the official added.
Hasin Jahan, Country Director of Bangladesh said, “The foreign aid has significant positive impacts on the people in Bangladesh which has also recognised the role that Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) can play in supporting gender equity and improving health outcomes for women and children.
Funding cuts mean most vulnerable people are being neglected, she added.
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