Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the latest military offensive in Hodeidah with regard to her Department''s provision of support in that region to prevent malnutrition.

On World Food Day this year, the UK announced a package of £96.5 million to help UNICEF continue tackle malnutrition in Yemen over the coming three years. This package will screen 2.2 million children under the age of five for malnutrition and provide urgent treatment for 70,000 of the most vulnerable children.

The recent increase in military activity in and around Hodeidah has had a relatively limited impact on this programme so far, as the programme’s activities are implemented countrywide, not exclusively in Hodeidah. The continued flow of goods through and onwards from Hodeidah port, however, will be critical to ensure that humanitarian supplies can reach those in need.

In Hodeidah city, stocks of supplies including nutrition, and fuel are still available thanks to the pre-positioning by UNICEF and its partners. Efforts are now focused on scaling up lifesaving activities within the humanitarian response.