New figures reveal that the world's poorest countries have been hit hardest by reductions in British aid under the government led by Keir Starmer. Data from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) shows a 6.7% decrease in funding to the least-developed and low-income countries, amounting to a reduction of £118 million. The UK's overall Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget in 2025 dropped to 0.44% of gross national income (GNI), down from 0.5% in 2024, representing a total cut of £987 million. Further reductions are expected as part of the government's plans to redirect funds toward defense spending. Gideon Rabinowitz, director of policy and advocacy at the charity network Bond, described the aid cuts as "shocking," noting that the most vulnerable countries are bearing the brunt of the reductions. He highlighted the human impact, with essential humanitarian programs such as maternal health services in Sierra Leone and education for children with disabilities in Africa already being forced to close. Marginalized communities in climate-vulnerable and conflict-affected regions are particularly affected by these cuts, as they are left with fewer resources to address their basic needs. The UK has also shifted a significant portion of its aid budget domestically, allocating 18.4% to in-country costs for asylum seekers—a slight decrease from 20% in 2024. The top three recipients of UK aid remain Ukraine, Yemen, and Afghanistan. However, while aid to Ukraine is protected from cuts, Yemen is expected to receive 28% less and Afghanistan 39% less by 2028/29. Meanwhile, aid to lower-middle-income countries has increased by 13%, and to upper-middle-income countries by 2%. Aid experts have warned that reductions in funding by the UK, the United States, and European countries are forcing aid workers to focus only on immediate life-saving support, even if this leads to avoidable deaths. A recent report by the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance (Alnap) found that 64 million fewer people received aid last year due to these cuts. Jennifer Doherty, co-author of the report, noted that the cumulative reductions have created the largest funding gap on record, making it increasingly difficult to prioritize aid effectively. She emphasized that the long-term impact will depend on both future government decisions and the ability of affected countries to adapt to reduced external support. Bond is urging the new prime minister, Andy Burnham, to reconsider the aid cuts introduced by his predecessor. Rabinowitz called for the remaining aid budget to be directed to where it is most needed, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected countries where humanitarian needs are most severe. He stressed that this approach is crucial to reducing poverty and inequality and ensuring that the most vulnerable populations receive the support they require.