Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the World Food Project reducing the size of food rations for 8 million people on the health and wellbeing of people affected; and what steps she is taking to mitigate that impact.

The reduction in food assistance to 8 million Yemenis, following reductions in funding to the World Food Programme (WFP), is driving even greater food insecurity in Yemen. The humanitarian response in Yemen has managed to prevent famine, but funds are now close to being exhausted. We are calling on all donors to pledge generously at the 2022 Yemen conference on 16 March so that vital aid programmes can continue, alongside ensuring that UK aid is targeted at those most in need. If the humanitarian response is not adequately funded there is a real prospect that large numbers of Yemenis will not have enough food to eat.

Since the conflict began, the UK has committed over £1 billion and supported the WFP with almost £260 million. Despite the financial pressures at home, the UK remains a leading donor to the UN appeal. This financial year, the UK aid pledge included £25m to the WFP to feed on average 240,000 of the most vulnerable Yemenis every month.