To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the humanitarian impact of the Saudi-led blockade of Yemen; whether they are supporting the actions of the coalition in Yemen; and if so, what form that support takes.
Answered on
4 December 2017
The UK is deeply concerned by the serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen. Even before the Saudi-led Coalition recently announced the temporary closure of all sea, land and air routes into Yemen, the country was the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The Coalition has since announced the reopening of ports and airports in areas controlled by the Government of Yemen, but these remain closed in areas not under government control - where 71% of Yemenis in severe humanitarian need live.
While the UK remains committed to supporting Saudi Arabia to address its legitimate security needs, it is absolutely vital that Yemen is kept open to humanitarian access and commercial supplies and personnel, upon which the Yemeni population depend. We are raising the importance of these points at the highest levels.
The UK continues to play a leading role in lobbying all sides to find a peaceful solution. As the pen-holder on Yemen at the UN Security Council the UK proposed and coordinated a UN Security Council Presidential Statement in June calling for an end to the conflict and the resumption of peace talks. The UK has since been pushing for a revived political process.