The Irish aid organization Goal has stated that over 900 of its employees, including 28 located in Ireland, are at risk of job loss due to cuts in international aid funding.
These reductions have placed nearly 30% of the organization’s workforce in jeopardy, alongside a “consequential cut” to its global operations.
“These reductions occur at a moment when more than 120 million individuals are displaced worldwide, and the need for humanitarian assistance is at its peak in decades,” Goal noted in a statement.
The charity is currently active in 14 countries globally, claiming to have “directly supported” over 11 million individuals last year.
“Belgium has decreased aid by 25%, while France has slashed its budget by 37%. More recently, the UK made a significant decision, cutting foreign aid by 40%. The unprecedented scale of these reductions is exacting an unimaginable toll on the entire humanitarian system, putting millions of lives in jeopardy,” it remarked.
Goal further explained: “As an organization profoundly dedicated to improving our world, we acknowledge the severe consequences that program closures and workforce reductions will have on individual lives and communities. It’s a tragic reality that the entire global humanitarian system is currently in crisis, and the full extent of the cuts worldwide has yet to be seen.”
The organization indicated that it is in the process of evaluating the complete effects of the funding cuts on its global activities.
Nonetheless, it has already notified staff in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean that their positions are at risk.
Goal asserted that these cuts will have “deep implications” for individual lives and communities.
“In Ethiopia, we run numerous programs aimed at providing essential, life-saving assistance to children suffering from moderate and severe acute malnutrition.
“Due to the funding cuts, we are already receiving reports of children under five years old in therapeutic feeding programs dying as a result of interruptions and suspensions of these feeding initiatives.”
Goal expressed that it is “proud and grateful” for the continued support from the Irish Government, which has maintained its humanitarian funding to Goal and other aid organizations serving those in extreme poverty.
“With the ongoing support from Irish Aid and the generosity of the Irish public, Goal will strive to do everything within our means to deliver critical, life-saving programs.”
