Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Yemen is one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world. According to the UN, almost 21 million people (over 70% of the population) are in need of humanitarian aid and 7 million face extreme food shortages (including 462,000 children under 5 suffering from acute malnutrition). As a result, Yemen is facing the world’s worst cholera outbreak with 262,650 cases recorded and over 1,587 deaths.

In response, the UK has increased our funding for Yemen to £139 million for 2017/18. This includes support for cholera prevention, and the provision of medical supplies and treatment for those affected. In addition, we are helping fund 1 million cholera vaccines that are currently being sent to Yemen through GAVI, the Global Vaccine Alliance. Last year, the UK helped more than 1 million Yemenis with emergency humanitarian assistance, including food, healthcare and nutrition support.

The UK is the second largest donor to the UN’s Yemen appeal, and continues active lobbying for a political solution as well for others in the international community to step up co-ordinated action and funding.