Humanitarian Action and Non-state Armed Groups: The Impact of Banking Restrictions on UK NGOs

Banks are restricting the work of humanitarian NGOs and impeding the effectiveness of the UK government’s aid budget.

British NGOs undertaking humanitarian operations in or near areas where non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are active face increasing restrictions on their access to the financial system, including delayed transfers, the freezing of funds and in some cases the complete closure of bank accounts. These restrictions impede the UK government’s ability to meet its commitment under the 2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review to refocus its aid budget to support fragile and broken states and regions.