MCI President & WDR Convenor Speak Out Against Government Cut in Overseas Aid
Rev Dr Sahr Yambasu, MCI President
The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev. Dr. Sahr Yambasu, and the Convener of Irish Methodist World Development & Relief, Rev. Paul Maxwell, jointly condemn the action of the government of the United Kingdom in cutting its overseas aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5%.
Rev Paul Maxwell, World Development & Relief Convenor
This will amount to £4 billion lost in helping many of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Charities, aid experts and MPs say that this could result in a million girls losing out on schooling, nearly three million women and children going without life-saving nutrition and 5.6 million children left unvaccinated, causing up to 100,000 deaths. This will be in just the first year of this aid reduction.
This action is short-sighted, makes little budgetary sense and suggests a total lack of concern on the part of the privileged ‘haves’ in government. It is deplorable and is the breaking of a promise to stand alongside those who need us. Such a decision is the complete antithesis of the values taught within the Christian gospel; namely solidarity, compassion and justice. Less importantly, but significantly, the reputation of the United Kingdom has suffered hugely as a result.
Issued by :
Rev. Roy Cooper (07710945104)
Press Officer, the Methodist Church in Ireland.
