Charitable and Voluntary Sector

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger Excerpts

Thursday 30th April 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Con)]

My Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Addington, for bringing this important debate. Following on from my noble friend Lady Anelay’s remarks, I will consider the effect the pandemic is having on organisations working in developing and conflict countries. In fragile states and refugee camps—where there are high concentrations of poorly housed people, a lack of water and sanitation and low healthcare provisions—it is anticipated that mortality rates will be very high.

In these countries, women and girls are disproportionately affected. Evidence shows that in these emergencies, gender-based violence is exacerbated. Although communities depend on women as food producers and care givers, they are excluded from decision-making that affects their lives. It is also important for women to be able to access birth control, maternal health support and child vaccination programmes that should continue alongside education.

Fallout from Covid-19 could force half a billion people into poverty unless dramatic action is taken. This will be a significant setback to reaching the 2030 SDGs. However, in spite of increased need for services, the economic situation drastically impacts both UK aid, with 0.7% being less in real terms, and—as we have already heard—the ability of NGOs to raise money, with voluntary giving predicted to be down by 48%, events cancelled and charity shops shut.

Present circumstances make it very hard for NGOs still active in these countries to deliver their programmes, yet it is vital that their work continues, as experience shows that UN agencies often cannot respond quickly enough. Can more be done to support these organisations? Have the Government considered repurposing existing DfID grants? What further plans are there to assess and support the strengthening of developing countries’ public health systems, ensuring that they are truly accessible to the very poor?

Some are calling this situation the worst humanitarian catastrophe since World War II. We need to help NGOs to provide emergency support to mitigate the effects in the world’s poorest countries, and we need to act now.