Ministers questioned about developments in Yemen

Yemen is the site of a devastating political and military conflict, with civil war breaking out around 2015. This has left the country vulnerable to famine and disease, with the United Nations estimating that around 22.2 million people in Yemen required some kind of humanitarian or protection assistance.

Foreign Office Minister, Andrew Stephenson, told MPs;

"Our funding this financial year is providing food for over 1 million Yemenis each month, and providing over 1 million people with improved water supply and sanitation. We have been very concerned by the UN's funding situation, and that it has been forced to stop delivering some of it's life saving support in Yemen. In response, the UK brought forward funding from our £200 million pledge, and has already released 87 per cent of the funding we have pledged to UN agencies this year."

On behalf of the Opposition, Shadow Minister Stephen Twigg responded, saying:

"Humanitarian efforts remain critically underfunded. The United Nation's programmes on vaccination, cholera prevention and malnutrition have been forced to close. We are now looking to the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan. Can I ask that the UK work with other donors to ensure that these lifesaving programmes be restored? The previous Foreign Secretary provided real leadership on Yemen, and there is a real concern that Yemen is no longer the priority of the government that it was before July."

• Watch Parliament TV: Urgent Question on Yemen
• Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.

Image: PA 

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