DRC aid agencies appeal to UK Foreign Office to suspend ‘disastrous’ cuts

Third of DRC population faces acute food insecurity and suggested 60% aid reduction would be catastrophe

A consortium of 19 aid agencies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo has issued a last-minute appeal to the UK Foreign Office to suspend planned aid cuts to the country, where a third of the population faces acute food insecurity.

The Foreign Office, the second largest provider of aid to the war-torn country, has told aid agencies that cuts are very likely. Although the size is not yet agreed, one report has suggested a 60% reduction in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office budget for the country. The FCDO's aid programme for Congo was worth 180m in 2019.