Evidence to House of Commons International Development Committee- Feb 2023

On 28th Feb 2023, Water Witness director, Nick Hepworth, gave evidence to the UK House of Commons International Development Committee on the impacts of UK Government aid cuts on the cholera emergency in Malawi. Our press release below outlines the concerns raised:

Water Witness International press release: For immediate use 11th January 2023 

Aid cuts mean UK Government "bears some responsibility” in Malawi cholera emergency as death toll reaches 700 

+ UK support to Malawi for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) has been slashed by over 50% since 2018, affecting availability of safe water, handwashing and hygiene in nation facing cholera emergency [1] 

+ Total UK aid to Malawi has been cut by 70% since 2012 and investment in health education was completely cut in 2016 [2] 

+ The UK global budget for WASH has been slashed by 80% - as a result 10 million people will lose out on access to safe WASH [3] 

International charity Water Witness today [11th Jan 2023] called out the UK Government’s cuts to aid budgets for water, sanitation and hygiene as a contributing factor to the cholera emergency in Malawi which has now claimed over 700 lives, and which the country has declared a national emergency. 

Commenting on the Malawi cholera emergency, Dr Nick Hepworth, Executive Director of Water Witness International, said:  

“The UK government bears some responsibility for the current cholera epidemic facing the people of Malawi, having drastically cut its vital support for water, sanitation and hygiene in the country.  Cholera is an appalling disease caused by water or food contaminated with faeces, and can kill in a matter of hours through diarrhoea and dehydration.  It is easily prevented and we banished it from the UK in the 1890s.  It is utterly shameful that a disease of the Victorian era is still claiming hundreds of lives through want of basic services.   

“In Malawi, only 26% of people have access to basic sanitation facilities, and a quarter of all water points are not functional. [4]  

“The UK is rapidly losing its standing as a global leader because of its back-peddling on legally binding commitments to international aid.  10 million people around the world stand to lose out on access to water, sanitation and hygiene as a result of these cuts.  The tragic public health emergency unfolding in Malawi shows us the consequences of this.  We call on the UK Government to reverse its draconian spending cuts on essential basic services for the world’s most vulnerable people, and to make global water security a priority across UK Government and its global partners.”   

Walter Chinangwa, International Programme Officer, Water Witness Malawi, said:  

“In December, our President declared a public health emergency in Malawi. More than 21,000 people have been infected across 15 Districts, and 716 people have sadly now died from cholera. Limited access to safe water and sanitation, the limited capacity of health and treatment centres, and even the lack of clean water and toilets in health centres are slowing down the ability to contain its spread.  

“In Malawi we are feeling the impacts of the UK pulling out investment and leadership from basic water, hygiene and sanitation provision. Investment in health education was completely cut in 2016 [5] and we are now feeling the deadly impacts.  We call on the UK Government to urgently reverse its budget cuts on water and health education worldwide so that together we can eradicate diseases like cholera forever.”   

Water Witness was set up in Edinburgh in 2008, and works with those at the sharp end of the world’s water crisis to shine a light on its impacts, understand its root causes and activate an effective response.  

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

Dr Nick Hepworth and Walter Chinangwa are available for interview: contact Lexi Parfitt on 07833 554 360 lexiparfitt@waterwitness.org to arrange interview  

[1] UK aid for water, sanitation and hygiene in Malawi has been cut from US$4.2 M/yr in 2018 to US$2M/yr in 2021. OECD official Overseas Development Aid reporting: Creditor Reporting System (CRS) (oecd.org)  

[2] Total Overseas Development Assistance from the UK to Malawi reduced from US$190 M/yr in 2012 to $56.5M/yr in 2021. OECD official Overseas Development Aid reporting: Creditor Reporting System (CRS) (oecd.org)  

[3] WASH Network submission to FCDO  Open+letter+to+UK+SoS+in+response+to+WASH+aid+cuts+.pdf (squarespace.com)  

[4] Unicef https://www.unicef.org/malawi/water-sanitation-and-hygiene   

[5] OECD official Overseas Development Aid reporting: Creditor Reporting System (CRS) (oecd.org)