Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what diplomatic steps his Department has taken with his international counterparts to establish safe travel routes for international humanitarian organisations.

We are acutely aware of the difficult operating environments humanitarian organisations often face delivering life-saving assistance.

Currently in Yemen this is a subject of constant negotiation for the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator, who works tirelessly with both parties and humanitarian actors to ensure those most in need are being reached.

Through UK diplomatic channels we continue to press authorities to facilitate aid delivery. This can include issuing visas to humanitarian staff or permission for NGOs and UN agencies to travel to reach people in more difficult or remote areas. We also continue to call on both parties to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2451 by facilitating safe, rapid, and unhindered access for both the humanitarian response and commercial supplies.