Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to improve the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

The UK is deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. According to the United Nations, 21 million Yemenis (80% of the population) are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Of those, 6 million are facing severe food shortages; over 9 million have lost access to water; and 1 million have been displaced.

The UK is working closely with the United Nations and other partners to restore vital commercial fuel and food imports to Yemen; increase humanitarian access to affected communities through lobbying for a further humanitarian pause; and increase the level of funding towards humanitarian assistance.

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. On 19 June, the International Development Secretary announced an additional £40 million for the humanitarian response in Yemen, bringing the total UK contribution to £55 million for 2015. Our contribution is providing life-saving assistance (e.g. medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter) to those affected by the conflict and is treating severe acute malnutrition.