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EMAIL PARLIAMENT
Priority of the Official Development Assistance Budget
​Dear [Your MP’s Name],
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I hope this email finds you well.
As a local constituent and supporter of The Borgen Project, I am reaching out to you personally to request your support in prioritising the Official Development Aid (ODA) budget in Parliament and beyond.
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I have reviewed the report of the House of Commons which stated that the UK's support for ODA will not be increased to the target of 0.7% and will be reduced further to increase the UK's defence spending. This is a cause for concern. Given the current political climate, ongoing conflicts and the cost-of-living crisis, it is critical that we do not lose sight of those who are most in need – those living in extreme poverty. The ODA target is an essential step towards securing a stable future for these individuals and opening new markets for UK companies.
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As my elected representative, I believe you have the power to help make a difference on this issue. I would like to request that you take the following actions:
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1) Write to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and HM Treasury to express your support for the campaign to raise the ODA budget back to 0.7%.
2) Raise the issue in written and oral questions in the House of Commons, including any committees on which you sit in.
3) Use your communication channels, including social media and relevant meetings, to publicly pledge your support to secure funding for ODA programmes that support fighting global poverty, such as the Prosperity Fund.
4) Work with fellow MP’s and stakeholders to build a cross-party consensus in support of the campaign.
5) Lobby the government to allocate more resources to ODA by arguing that the UK's international reputation and influence are at stake.
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I believe that your support can play a crucial role in securing funding for ODA programmes that support fighting global poverty, and I hope that you will consider my request.
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Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Urgent Action for a Ceasefire and Unrestricted Humanitarian Aid for Gaza and Palestine
Dear [Your MP's Name],
I hope this email finds you well.
As you may be aware, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is reaching catastrophic levels, with over 2 million Palestinians in desperate need of basic, life-saving resources. With polio emerging, Hepatitis A spreading, and meningitis cases rising, the health care system is on the brink of collapse. The need for urgent humanitarian aid has never been greater.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 57,680 Palestinians have been killed and 137,409 injured since October 7, 2023. Additionally, more than 14,222 people are still missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
In May, the Minister for Development, Jenny Chapman visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. She stated, "The Israeli government’s failure to allow full humanitarian access to aid workers is abhorrent. Far too few trucks are crossing into Gaza."
With no permanent ceasefire in sight, critical aid is still being blocked, worsening the suffering of innocent civilians. According to UNICEF, Gaza is world’s most dangerous place to be a child.
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Article 54 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. According to the IPC, ‘Famine is imminent as 1.1 million people, half of Gaza, experience catastrophic food insecurity’.
More needs to be done.
As a concerned constituent and an ambassador for The Borgen Project, I urge you to do everything in your power to push for a permanent ceasefire and to allow humanitarian aid to reach the people facing intolerable suffering.
The siege of Gaza must be stopped. Water, food and fuel allowed in.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Your Name
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