Anna McMorrin MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for International Development, ahead of the Yemen international aid pledging conference, said:

“Millions of Yemenis may soon to be without critical assistance as imminent funding cuts threaten vital aid programmes, adding immeasurable pressure to the world’s greatest humanitarian emergency.

“With the country now facing a fall in remittances, restrictions on movement and with humanitarian workers unable to access and operate in many areas of the country, the situation will only worsen and leave people horribly exposed to the pandemic.

“Given the shortfall in international humanitarian aid funding, the UK must lead international efforts going into the Yemen pledging conference in Riyadh to prevent the humanitarian and health crisis in Yemen from spiralling into an irreparable disaster. Failure to do so will not only cause countless deaths directly and indirectly but will also pose major obstacles to tackling the global public health pandemic by allowing COVID19 to remain and spread in the region.”