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Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Foreign aid cuts will lead to more HIV infections and deaths, study suggests
HIV infections and deaths will rise as a result of cuts to foreign aid, according to a study. Researchers said that funding cuts could undo decades of progress. A new report says that infections and deaths could surge to levels not seen for more than two decades. Experts, led by academics from Australia, estimate there could be up to 10.8 million additional HIV infections by 2030 in low-and-middle income countries as a result of the cuts. And there could be up to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths between 2025 and 2030 if funding cuts proposed by the top five donor countries, including the USA and the UK, are not mitigated. Sir Keir Starmer recently slashed overseas aid spending to fund defence commitments he said were necessary to protect the UK amid uncertainty over the Ukraine war and its implications for European security. Anneliese Dodds resigned as international development minister over the decision, which will see the budget cut from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in the next two years. After taking up post in January, US president Donald Trump announced a pause in most US foreign aid spending. He also announced that the US would withdraw from the World Health Organisation. It is with sadness that I have had to tender my resignation as Minister for International Development and for Women and Equalities. While I disagree with the ODA decision, I continue to support the government and its determination to deliver the change our country needs. — Anneliese Dodds (@AnnelieseDodds) February 28, 2025 A paper, published in The Lancet HIV, highlights how international donors have contributed to 40% of all HIV funding in low-and-middle income countries since 2015. The USA, UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands together account for more than 90% of international funding, but they have each recently announced plans to implement significant cuts to foreign aid, the article adds. It is estimated that these plans will lead to a 24% reduction in international HIV funding by 2026. As a result, the team modelled the human cost of the cuts. They estimated there could be between 4.4 million to 10.8 million additional HIV infections by 2030 in low-and-middle income countries. And between 770,000 to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths in children and adults could occur in the same time frame. 'Unmitigated funding reductions could significantly reverse progress in the HIV response by 2030, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan African countries and key and vulnerable populations,' the authors wrote. It comes after the UN programme for combating HIV and Aids, UNAids, said that daily new HIV infections around the world could almost double without the aid provided by the United States. 'The United States has historically been the largest contributor to global efforts to treat and prevent HIV, but the current cuts to Pepfar (the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) and USaid-supported programmes have already disrupted access to essential HIV services including for antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing,' said co-lead study author Dr Debra ten Brink of the Burnet Institute (Australia). 'Looking ahead, if other donor countries reduce funding, decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unravelled. 'It is imperative to secure sustainable financing and avoid a resurgence of the HIV epidemic which could have devastating consequences, not just in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, but globally.' And reports suggest that the Trump administration is planning to end funding for Gavi, the vaccine alliance. Responding to the reports, Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, said: 'The funding cuts in the first three months of this year affecting USaid, ODA, WHO and now Gavi are suffocating global health.' Commenting on the study, the National Aids Trust said it is 'extremely alarmed' by the potential impact of proposed cuts. Daniel Fluskey, director of policy, research and influencing at the charity, said: 'These funding cuts will have a devastating impact for millions of people across the world as well as threatening the progress that has been made, both globally and in the UK, on ending the HIV epidemic. 'Like any virus, HIV does not stop at international borders. We will not reach the goal of ending new transmissions by 2030 in the UK with a resurgence of HIV across the world.' Anne Aslett, chief executive of the Elton John Aids Foundation, added: 'This report demonstrates the critical and urgent need for donors to recognise the cumulative impact of their decisions to cut aid budgets. 'If funding for the global HIV response falls away to the extent this report suggests it could, millions more people will get sick, and health budgets will simply not be able to cope.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'The UK provides significant funding to the global HIV response, supporting work to end Aids-related deaths and prevent new HIV infections. 'We remain firmly committed to tackling global health challenges, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it will help us deliver on our Plan for Change in the UK by supporting global stability and growth.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Good riddance to Anneliese Dodds, the minister without sense
It is perhaps unfair to pose of Anneliese Dodds' resignation as International Development Minister the oft-cited philosophical question: if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? It is a rare thing now for a minister to resign on a matter of principle, all the more so in a Government which appears not to have any principles beyond the occupation of office. In that context, Dodds deserves some credit. But in every other context her resignation is of almost no consequence. First, because Dodds is herself of almost no consequence. And second – more importantly – because her reasoning for doing so is completely wrong. Anneliese Dodds is one of those MPs in all parties whose rise to the top is almost inexplicable. The story is told that she was appointed shadow Chancellor in Keir Starmer's first shadow Cabinet 2020 because he had enjoyed talking to her on a long car journey. It was certainly difficult at the time to think of any other credible reason, given her unspectacular political history. Her shadow Chancellorship was quickly taken from her after the party's poor showing in Hartlepool. She then bounced from shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities to Minister for International Development upon the party taking power. The move was generally considered a demotion, blamed perhaps on her car-crash performance on Radio 4's Woman's Hour where she failed to define womanhood. Emma Barnet, clearly exasperated by her failure to answer what should have been a perfectly simple question, then reminded her that she was the shadow Minister for Women and Equalities. Dodds' sterling determination to ignore reality has brought her some benefits. It was reported that she turned up at the Government's first Cabinet meeting last July even though she was only a Minister of State. Apparently nobody had the heart to tell her she shouldn't be there, so she stayed and kept coming. Starmer's apparent decision to keep her in the dark on his new defence priorities show precisely how little weight he placed on the importance of her Government position. As such, her resignation is unlikely to provoke much soul-searching in No. 10. The West faces an existential threat from Russia and China, a threat that exists almost entirely because we have shown ourselves to be unwilling to defend ourselves and our allies. The Prime Minister understands hard decisions will have to be made to ensure our protection. A shame, then, the question was never asked of Dodds: 'which department should we cut to fund defence – education or health?' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Good riddance to Anneliese Dodds, the minister without sense
It is perhaps unfair to pose of Anneliese Dodds' resignation as International Development Minister the oft-cited philosophical question: if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? It is a rare thing now for a minister to resign on a matter of principle, all the more so in a Government which appears not to have any principles beyond the occupation of office. In that context, Dodds deserves some credit. But in every other context her resignation is of almost no consequence. First, because Dodds is herself of almost no consequence. And second – more importantly – because her reasoning for doing so is completely wrong. Anneliese Dodds is one of those MPs in all parties whose rise to the top is almost inexplicable. The story is told that she was appointed shadow Chancellor in Keir Starmer's first shadow Cabinet 2020 because he had enjoyed talking to her on a long car journey. It was certainly difficult at the time to think of any other credible reason, given her unspectacular political history. Her shadow Chancellorship was quickly taken from her after the party's poor showing in Hartlepool. She then bounced from shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities to Minister for International Development upon the party taking power. The move was generally considered a demotion, blamed perhaps on her car-crash performance on Radio 4's Woman's Hour where she failed to define womanhood. Emma Barnet, clearly exasperated by her failure to answer what should have been a perfectly simple question, then reminded her that she was the shadow Minister for Women and Equalities. Dodds' sterling determination to ignore reality has brought her some benefits. It was reported that she turned up at the Government's first Cabinet meeting last July even though she was only a Minister of State. Apparently nobody had the heart to tell her she shouldn't be there, so she stayed and kept coming. Starmer's apparent decision to keep her in the dark on his new defence priorities show precisely how little weight he placed on the importance of her Government position. As such, her resignation is unlikely to provoke much soul-searching in No. 10. The West faces an existential threat from Russia and China, a threat that exists almost entirely because we have shown ourselves to be unwilling to defend ourselves and our allies. The Prime Minister understands hard decisions will have to be made to ensure our protection. A shame, then, the question was never asked of Dodds: 'which department should we cut to fund defence – education or health?'
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Anneliese Dodds quits: Read her resignation letter in full
Anneliese Dodds has quit as international development minister over the decision to cut overseas aid to fund a boost to defence spending. The Labour MP for Oxford East posted on X: 'It is with sadness that I have had to tender my resignation as Minister for International Development and for Women and Equalities.' She posted an image of the letter of resignation sent to Sir Keir Starmer, in which she wrote that she knew there were no 'easy paths' to increase defence spending, but that she disagreed with the decision to cut overseas development aid to 0.3% of GNI (gross national income). Ms Dodds wrote: 'It is with sadness that I have had to tender my resignation as minister for international development and for women and equalities. 'While I disagree with the ODA decision, I continue to support the Government and its determination to deliver the change our country needs.' Read Anneliese Dodds' letter in full: Dear Prime Minister, It is with sadness that I write to inform you that I will cease attending your Cabinet, and am tendering to you my resignation as your Minister of State for International Development and for Women and Equalities. As I stated to you earlier this week, it was imperative that you had a united cabinet behind you as you set off for Washington. Your determination to pursue peace through strength for Ukraine is one I share. It is for that reason that I am only writing to you now that your meeting with President Trump is over, and four days after you informed me of your decision to cut Overseas Development Assistance to 0.3% of GNI. Undoubtedly the postwar global order has come crashing down. I believe that we must increase spending on defence as a result; and know that there are no easy paths to doing so. I stood ready to work with you to deliver that increased spending, knowing some might welf have had to come from ODA. I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing. Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending. These are unprecedented times, when strategic decisions for the sake of our country's security cannot be ducked. Instead, the tactical decision was taken for ODA to absorb the entire burden. You have maintained that you want to continue support for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine; for vaccination; for climate; and for rules-based systems. Yet it will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut; the effect will be far greater than presented, even if assumptions made about reducing asylum costs hold true. The cut will also likely lead to a UK pull-out from numerous African, Caribbean and Western Balkan nations - at a time when Russia has been aggressively increasing its global presence. It will likely lead to withdrawal from regional banks and a reduced commitment to the World Bank; the UK being shut out of numerous muitlateral bodies; and a reduced voice for the UK in the G7, G20 and in climate this while China is seeking to rewrite global rules, and when the climate crisis is the biggest security threat of them all. Ultimately, these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people - deeply harming the UK's reputation. I know you have been clear that you are not ideologically opposed to international development. But the reality is that this decision is already being portrayed as following in President Trump's slipstream of cuts to USAID. While we differ profoundly on this decision, I remain proud of all that you have achieved since I backed you to be leader of the Labour Party. I will always remain grateful to you for enabling me to contribute to our election victory, by appointing me to chair the policy review, Stronger Together and the National Policy Forum, and of course the Labour Party itself, including work to rid the party of anti-semitism and on the production of the manifesto. I am also grateful to the many thousands of party members, party staff and trade unionists I have worked with. l also regret deeply that I will no longer be able to work with you towards a more equal Britain, after years of covering the women and equalities brief where I have sought to deliver a commonsense approach which could command public support while delivering change. I am sorry that I will not be in post to deliver the groundbreaking new legislation on equality for Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, disabled people and LGBT + people to which we are committed. I am however pleased that OE measures in the Employment Rights Bill will soon be in place, revolutionising support for women in the workplace. Finally, I would like to thank the civil servants whom I have worked with over the last eight months - individuals who often work in the most dangerous and difficult places and circumstances, to protect our country's interests. I wish you, and the government you command, every success for the future.I will continue to support you, and the change you are determined to deliver - but now I shall do so from the backbenches. Yours ever, Annetiese Dodds MP
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minister resigns over cut to international aid budget
International development minister Anneliese Dodds has quit her post over Sir Keir Starmer's decision to slash the overseas aid budget to pay for an increase in defence spending. Ms Dodds posted on X: "It is with sadness that I have had to tender my resignation as Minister for International Development and for Women and Equalities. While I disagree with the ODA decision, I continue to support the government and its determination to deliver the change our country needs." Around £6bn per year and transferred over to pay for defence. That amounts to a reduction in aid spending from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
