UK slashes aid to Syria despite direct appeals from UN

Reduction comes despite direct appeals from senior UN figures that situation is worse than ever

The UK has slashed its funding of the Syrian refugee programme by a third at a major United Nations donor conference despite direct appeals from the UN that the plight of Syrian refugees have grown worse than ever during the 10-year civil war.

The UK offer of at least 205m was made by the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, and compares with a donation of 300m at the same conference last year. The UK eventually provided 400m last year, so in the event there is no additional UK funding later in the year the British aid cut will be almost 50%.