The UK’s humanitarian response to COVID-19

A review assessing emergency UK aid support for populations in humanitarian need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Score: Green/Amber
  1. Status: Completed
  2. Published: 14 July 2022
  3. Type: Full review
  4. Subject: Humanitarian assistance
  5. Assessment: Green/Amber
  6. Location: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, Yemen
  7. Lead commissioner: Tamsyn Barton
  8. SDGs covered:Zero hunger, Good health and wellbeing, Gender equality

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We have conducted a review of the UK’s emergency support for populations in humanitarian need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have published our review and made three recommendations to the government to make further improvements. See the ‘review’ tab for our findings and recommendations.

Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the most geographically widespread and arguably most complex crisis in modern times. While its impact has been global, its effects have been uneven. Some countries and regions have fared better so far in containing the pandemic, while others have faced – and continue to face – acute public health emergencies.

The UK has played a substantial part in the global response as a major humanitarian donor. By January 2021, the UK had committed £1.3 billion to fight COVID-19 globally. Of this, 90% was channelled through multilateral institutions and global appeals.

This review assesses the UK’s emergency support for populations in humanitarian need as a result of the pandemic and contribute towards lesson learning as the impacts of the pandemic continue.

Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals relevant to this review are:

  • Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero hunger
  • Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being
  • Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender equality

Timeline

Approach

Published 4 November 2021

Evidence gathering

Complete

Review publication

14 July 2022

Government response

Published 5 December 2022

Parliamentary scrutiny

To be confirmed

Further scrutiny

To be confirmed