PROPOSED cuts to international aid could lead to 300,000 preventable deaths, charities have warned. 

Britain is reportedly expected to slash funding for the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 20 per cent. 

Aid groups said such a reduction, on top of a 30 per cent cut to Britain’s contribution three years ago, would risk years of progress in combating the diseases.

No decision has been publicly announced.

Malaria No More UK executive director Gareth Jenkins said: “The world stands on the brink of a malaria resurgence.

“Many more children will lose their lives, health systems will be overwhelmed and economies dragged down – with huge knock-on effects for UK trade and health security.”

StopAids chief executive Mike Podmore said cuts “would send a terrible message,” particularly as Britain is co-hosting next month’s funding event.

Development campaign One’s Adrian Lovett said that diseases “do not stop at borders, it would jeopardise our own health security here at home too.”

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “The UK has not yet decided what its pledge to the Global Fund will be. We will announce this in due course.”