Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect on medical facilities in Yemen of the recent cyclone in that country.

Two tropical cyclones – Sagar and Mekunu – hit parts of Yemen in the second half of May, with the most severe damage reported on the island of Socotra. A rapid assessment suggests that all the health facilities in Socotra are functioning but with low capacity and in urgent need of essential drugs. The humanitarian community has started to send shelter kits and other non-food items, as well as food and medical supplies to the island. A UN team is working with the local authorities to assess further needs and coordinate response efforts.

Only half of Yemen’s health facilities are fully functional and 16 million Yemenis require support to obtain healthcare. Our support of £170 million to Yemen this financial year (2018/19) includes support for improving the quality and availability of healthcare and medical supplies in Yemen.