Asked by: Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
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 humanitarian access after military operations in Saada in August 2018.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Insecurity, damaged infrastructure and bureaucratic constraints throughout Yemen, including in Sa’ada, continue to threaten humanitarian access to the 22.2 million Yemenis in need of assistance across the country.
We continue to work closely with our UN and NGO delivery partners, in Sa’ada and northern Yemen, who are operating under difficult circumstances to reach the most vulnerable.
We also urge all parties to the conflict to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian and commercial access across Yemen, including in Sa’ada, and to do everything possible to protect innocent civilians and demonstrate their commitment to International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
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 Saudi-led Coalition military operations in Saada in August 2018 on civilian life.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK government has expressed serious concern at the tragic loss of life in Yemen over August, including the tragic incidents of 2 August, 9 August, and 23 August in which so many Yemenis were killed. In the first two weeks of August alone, over 400 Yemenis lost their lives, including young children, and many more continue to face egregious violations of their basic human rights.
We have welcomed the speed of the investigation into the Sa’ada incident of 9 August, and the Coalition’s announcement of regret and action to address the recommendations of that investigation, and are continuing to review the investigation’s conclusions.
We continue to urge all sides of the conflict to do everything possible to protect innocent civilian life and to demonstrate their commitment to International Humanitarian law.