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Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) on Thursday, 23 July 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 August 2026. It was answered by Lord Wood of Anfield (Labour) on Friday, 31 July 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Development Aid: Health Services

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the documentary by Channel 4 News and The Fuller Project A matter of life or death: giving birth in Sierra Leone, in particular its findings regarding the impact of cuts in UK humanitarian services on maternity services in Sierra Leone, and (2) the effects of Concern Worldwide’s decision to cease funding 27 clinics in Darfur due to aid cuts.

Answer

The UK remains committed to improving health outcomes for women and children globally, including in Sierra Leone. Over the last decade, the UK has helped improve maternal and child health services, including those highlighted in the Channel 4 documentary. This has contributed significantly to a reduction in the maternal mortality ratio from 1,682 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to an estimated 354 in 2025. The UK continues to work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone and multilateral partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank, GAVI and the Global Fund, to strengthen the delivery of national health services and to increase domestic funding.

The UK is committed to supporting the humanitarian response in Sudan, providing vital healthcare, nutrition, and water. This is why we are providing £146 million of support this financial year and will uphold this figure over the spending period. We have also more than doubled our funding to Sudan's local responders, who are able to provide life-saving aid to communities in the hardest to reach areas, including Darfur. We continue to use all diplomatic levers to secure unimpeded humanitarian access, security guarantees for aid workers and the end to all siege tactics which block the free movement of civilians and aid.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL2619
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Development aid Health services Humanitarian aid Sierra Leone Sudan
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk