Agence France-Presse: Aid hit record in 2016, driven by migrant flows: OECD
“Wealthy countries boosted their aid spending in 2016, investing a record $143 billion (135 billion euros) in overseas development as migrants continued to pour into Europe, the OECD said Tuesday. The 8.9 percent hike in aid spending was partly driven by a 27.5 percent increase in spending on refugees, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said…” (4/11).

Devex: OECD aid reaches record high but more money is spent domestically
“…[I]n-donor refugee costs accounted for $15.4 billion of that funding, up by 27.5 percent in real terms from 2015, according to preliminary figures released [Tuesday] by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. This means that over 10 percent of total net ODA in 2016 was provided for this purpose. Nonetheless, net aid rose by 7.1 percent even after stripping out refugee costs, the organization said…” (Ravelo, 4/11).

The Guardian: ‘Worrying trend’ as aid money stays in wealthiest countries
“…The data also show that aid to the least developed countries fell by 3.9 percent from 2015, with aid to Africa down by 0.5 percent. … Overall, overseas development aid rose in 22 countries in 2016…” (Summers, 4/11).

Thomson Reuters Foundation: Rich countries criticized for using aid money to host refugees instead of tackling poverty
“…Of the 29 members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee, the United States remained the largest donor in 2016 giving $33.6 billion in aid, followed by Germany with $24.7 billion, Britain, Japan, and France. Only six donors — Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Britain — met or exceeded the United Nations’ target of spending 0.7 percent of national income on development aid” (Taylor, 4/11).