Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has made an assessment of the humanitarian effect on the local population of a military assault on Hodeida port in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition.

The UN assess that an attack on Hodeidah could displace up to 350,000 people and leave hundreds of thousands of Yemenis without access to basic goods, water or healthcare. 17.8 million people in Yemen already lack reliable access to food – 8.4 million of which face extreme food shortages. UN estimates suggest any long closure of Hodeidah port is likely to put over 3 million more people at risk of starvation.

The UK government has been clear in expressing its concerns to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates about any attack on Hodeidah. We urge all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and to continue to facilitate access for essential commercial and humanitarian imports of food, fuel and medical supplies into the country, including through Hodeidah port.