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 access to clean drinking water 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. Early reports indicate that the damage was most severe on the island of Socotra, where the water network has been damaged and floods are increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The humanitarian community has started to send emergency supplies, including hygiene kits and chlorine to purify water to Socotra, and a UN team is working with the local authorities to assess further needs and coordinate response efforts.

Some 16 million Yemenis require support to meet their basic water, sanitation and hygiene needs. The UK’s support of £170 million to Yemen this financial year (2018/19) is helping to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene services to Yemen.