Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department and its international partners are taking to ensure humanitarian aid continues to be provided during the conflict in Yemen.

The UK is working closely with the United Nations, the United States and other partners to ensure humanitarian aid continues to enter Yemen. We have consistently called on all parties to the conflict to ensure rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian agencies. We support the UN Secretary General’s call for a further humanitarian pause so that agencies can deliver further supplies, help the sick and wounded to access health services, and allow civilians trapped by fighting to leave.

The UK was the first country to deploy humanitarian experts to Riyadh to offer practical advice to Saudi and Yemeni authorities on facilitating access for humanitarian supplies, resuming commercial shipping, and improving systems for humanitarian clearances. So far the UK has provided £15 million to the 2015 UN Humanitarian Appeal for Yemen (including an additional commitment of £4 million in April 2015). Our contribution is providing life-saving assistance (e.g. medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter) to those affected by the conflict and treating severe acute malnutrition.