DEBATE PACK CDP-0069 (2020) | 20 March 2020 Compiled by: Nigel Walker

The situation in Subject specialist: Ben Smith

Contents

Main Chamber 1. Background 2 2. Press articles 4 Tuesday 24 March 2020 3. Press releases 6 4. PQs 15 General debate 5. Debates 24 6. Statements 25 7. Early Day Motions 29 8. Further reading 32

The proceedings of this debate can be viewed on Parliamentlive.tv.

The House of Commons Library prepares a briefing in hard copy and/or online for most non-legislative debates in the Chamber and Westminster Hall other than half-hour debates. Debate Packs are produced quickly after the announcement of parliamentary business. They are intended to provide a summary or overview of the issue being debated and identify relevant briefings and useful documents, including press and parliamentary material. More detailed briefing can be prepared for Members on request to the Library.

www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary 2 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

1. Background

The fighting in Yemen has been going on since the failure in 2011 of a Saudi-backed transition from long-time President Saleh to his deputy Abd Rabbuh Mansour al-Hadi. The rebel , based in the North and deeply hostile to the Saudis, took control of much of the country from the Hadi Government, entering the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014.

Saudi Arabia arranged a coalition, whose strongest members were and the , to prop up the Hadi Government. The ensuing conflict produced the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, with millions of people at risk from starvation and rampant disease.

There was much concern about UK and US weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE – weapons which were used in the Yemen conflict. In June 2019 an unfavourable court judgment led the UK Government to stop granting export licences for arms that might be used in Yemen.

In December 2018 a fragile peace process started with an agreement in Stockholm. Its aim was to protect the vital port of al-Hodeidah on the Red Sea coast, where most international aid arrived. The agreement achieved partial de-escalation around the port. There was increasing violence in the south, however, where separatist forces were gaining strength, partly backed by the UAE. Terrorist operations including al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS/Daesh continued to conduct attacks, although the US killed al-Qaeda’s Yemen leader in February 2020.

In September 2019, the Houthis launched devastating missile attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure at Abqaiq, causing world oil prices to surge. There was an agreement between the Houthis and the Saudis to cease Houthi missile attacks and Saudi air strikes.

Since early 2020 de-escalation agreements have ceased to be effective. The Houthis have resumed rocket attacks on Saudi Arabia, with assistance from Iran. Saudi Arabia has restarted air strikes on Sanaa. Iranian influence over the Houthis is growing, increasing the conflict’s centrality to Iran’s battle with Saudi Arabia over influence in the Middle East.

In January 2020 the US tried to assassinate an Iranian commander in Yemen on the same day that his colleague General Soleimani was killed in Iraq. The episode showed that, aside from counter-terrorist operations, the US remains deeply involved, despite attempts in congress to end US participation in the conflict.

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The International Crisis Group warns that there could be a showdown in northern Yemen between the Houthis, and forces allied with the internationally recognised Hadi government of Yemen.

That could cause a humanitarian disaster even bigger than the present situation because there are at least 800,000 internally displaced Yemenis in the region already.

It would also make an agreement on general de-escalation impossible. Such an agreement is needed if there is to be any chance of real peace negotiations.

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2. Press articles

The following is a selection of press and media articles relevant to this debate.

Please note: the Library is not responsible for either the views or the accuracy of external content.

The US is complicit in Saudi atrocities in Yemen Al Jazeera Alex Preve 19 March 2020

Health workers targeted at least 120 times in Yemen conflict – report The Guardian Bethan McKernan 18 March 2020

War-torn Yemen at a 'critical juncture', warns UN Al Jazeera 7 March 2020

Yemen's Houthis step back on threats to tax aid BBC News Online 14 February 2020

Yemen rise in violence threatens to derail peace moves, UN warns The Guardian Patrick Wintour 28 January 2020

Yemen: death toll rises to 116 from suspected Houthi missile attack The Guardian Bethan McKernan 21 January 2020

Failure to end civil war in Yemen now could cost $29bn The Guardian Patrick Wintour 1 December 2019

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Yemen government signs power-sharing deal with separatists The Guardian Patrick Wintour 5 November 2019

Death toll in Yemen war reaches 100,000 The Guardian Peter Beaumont 31 October 2019

Saudi Arabia brokers deal between warring sides in south Yemen The Guardian Patrick Wintour 25 October 2019

Yemen: 's changing alliances erupt into four-year conflict's newest front The Guardian Bethan McKernan 1 October 2019

Yemen civil war: the conflict explained The Guardian Patrick Wintour 20 June 2019

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3. Press releases

Calling for de-escalation in Yemen Foreign and Commonwealth Office 12 March 2020

Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Yemen:

Thank you very much, Mr President. Thank you to Martin, thank you to Ramesh, thank you to both of you for all that your teams are doing in these very difficult circumstances.

We come here every month and we hear these briefings and they normally swing between optimism and pessimism. But we all know the underlying realities of Yemen and we all know the risks that face the Yemeni people. And in that connection, I have to say, I find it astonishing that there can still be the sort of fighting that both Martin and Ramesh have described today.

I want to begin by echoing both your pleas to all parties for the fighting to stop and for de-escalation to begin. And as Martin said, this has to be public, it has to be accountable, it has to be nationwide, and we have to get into more negotiations, wider negotiations that actually make tangible progress. So the United Kingdom says today to all the parties, please act in good faith. Please engage in the process. Please seize the opportunity and ensure that 2020 is the year when we bring this dreadful conflict to a close. Martin has laid out what the roadmap to that closes and we urge the parties to cease it without delay.

I want to also echo what Martin said when he was in Marib. The conflict cannot be solved on the battlefield and I want to talk about the continuing obstructions put on the Redeployment Coordination Committee by the Houthis. I note the announcement today that the Government of Yemen has suspended its participation in the Committee. Less engagement is not the route to bringing peace to Hodeidah or to Yemen as a whole. Again, the United Kingdom urges and implores all the parties to constructively cooperate with General Guha and UNMHA. There is one positive development in the increased engagement between Saudi Arabia and at least that’s how it seems. Increased dialogue between regional actors is key for stability, not just in Yemen, but in the region as a whole.

On humanitarian access, Mr. President, I think Ramesh is absolutely right to say this in the context of international humanitarian law and the figure about casualties of children going up from 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 is shameful and it should horrify us all and urged us to redouble our efforts. On the difficult issue of the operating environment for humanitarian actors. I know there have been some small signs of improvement in North Yemen, but of course there’s much more to do. We call on the Houthis to now deliver on the minimum operating requirements that the international community has clearly set out. The world’s worst humanitarian crisis can’t afford to deteriorate any longer. We look to the UN and the international community to remain united in The situation in Yemen 7

response to access constraints and this was possible at the Brussels donor meeting on 13 February, which was helpful. Any plans to scale back assistance should be fully coordinated in order to limit the impact on Yemenis in need.

I wanted to echo what Ramesh said about the SAFER oil tanker. Again, it is incredible that every month we come here and every month we hear how precarious the situation is with this tanker and nothing gets done. So while I know negotiations are underway to find a diplomatic way forward again, I call on the Houthis to allow either the removal of the oil or repair mission to precede. Continued Houthi inaction on this issue is nothing short of reckless. They are playing dice with people’s lives and with the environment in a very important part of the world. The huge environmental and humanitarian damage must be avoided and all steps must be taken to that end.

I have followed with interest what was said about the economy. We’re very concerned that the Central Bank of Yemen may run out of foreign currency reserves in the next few weeks, which of course will exacerbate the humanitarian and political consequences. Significant external financial assistance to the Central Bank at the scale of $1-$22 billion dollars we believe is urgently needed so that imports can come in. And I hear what Ramesh described about the bank notes and obviously, that needs resolving quickly and the currency needs to stabilize so ordinary Yemenis can afford the food and medical supplies they need. So we look to the Government of Yemen to come up urgently with a credible and transparent plan that reassures potential donors of their investment to the Yemeni people. And again, I think this is one of those issues which is getting closer and closer to the precipice so we really do need to take action.

Lastly, Mr. President, if I may, I’d like to say something about Covid-19. The last thing Yemen needs will be an outbreak of this, I notice the increasing restrictions that many states are implementing in the region. It is good to know that UN agencies are taking steps to ensure the effect on their work is as limited as possible.

Thank you.

Foreign Secretary travels to to discuss Yemen response Foreign and Commonwealth Office 4 March 2020

The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia will continue to work together to tackle global challenges and help to resolve the devastating humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ahead of his first official visit to the country.

Mr Raab will hold talks with the leadership of Saudi Arabia and senior government counterparts including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Dr Musaad Al Aiyban, in Riyadh on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March.

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They will discuss our commitment to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, security and regional stability, and ways of combating the threat posed by climate change.

He will also hold talks with Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Hadi during his visit.

The Foreign Secretary will continue to drive progress on the Yemen peace process, following the recent surge in Houthi violence and constraints on getting humanitarian aid to those in need.

The Foreign Secretary will also raise issues where we have differences, including on human rights and values.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

Saudi Arabia is one of our closest trade partners and plays an important role in keeping Britain safe.

As a valued partner, we have to work closely together to tackle the crisis in Yemen, terrorism and climate change as well as pursuing reform and engaging on human rights issues.

The visit is also an opportunity to cooperate on an ambitious climate agenda ahead of climate summit COP 26 and during Saudi’s Presidency of the G20 this year. It comes as the UK steps up its efforts to tackle combat climate change, diversify our economy and protect the planet.

During his two-day trip to the country, the Foreign Secretary will also be shown around Diriyah, the historic capital of the first Saudi state which has been transformed into a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of a restoration project involving British companies and expertise.

Earlier this week, the Foreign Secretary was in Oman, where he held bilateral talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Omani Foreign Minister His Excellency Yusuf bin Alawi.

He then travelled to Turkey, where he held talks with his counterpart Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and reiterated the UK’s staunch support for Turkey’s efforts to negotiate an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Syria.

Violence and suffering in Yemen must stop if peace is to thrive Foreign and Commonwealth Office 18 February 2020

Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Yemen:

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you once more to Martin and Mark and to Ambassador King for the briefings.

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I want to state on record once again that we fully support the UN-led process and the UN’s efforts to bring peace to Yemen. And we take this opportunity once more to urge all the parties to engage in good faith and work closely with the UN to bring the conflict to a close. In that regard, we welcome the 16 February announcement that an initial agreement was made for an exchange of prisoners and, as ever, it is implementation that’s key.

We heard from Martin about the need for violence and suffering to stop if peace is to thrive. The decrease in violence that began in October was welcomed by the international community and by Yemenis. But as the emergency Council session on 28 January acknowledged, the recent violence in Al Jawf and Nehm is a very grave concern. Regardless of who started the violence, it is clear that the Houthis have sought to exploit the situation and this is unacceptable.

But to pick up on something Mark Lowcock said the violence does underscore the fact that the conflict will continue until we can find a political solution. So we encourage the parties to redouble their efforts towards beginning political discussions. And in order to ensure the effectiveness of the peace talks in Yemen, as well as the sustainability of the peace, we encourage the development of a context specific approach to women’s participation in the process, as called for in Resolution 2493.

I want to turn now to humanitarian access. We share very much the concerns that Mark outlined; his briefing on the reversal of the trend towards decreasing civilian casualties was very sobering. We endorse his remarks on international humanitarian law, and I think his warning about donors was also very salutary. As the United Kingdom, we’re increasingly concerned by access constraints and obstructions in Houthi- controlled areas in the north. Houthi restrictions have grown significantly over recent weeks with intimidation of UN and NGO humanitarian workers becoming more severe. In line with Resolution 2451, humanitarian workers need to be able to conduct their work safely and without harm.

Madam President, unless these obstructions are lifted and intimidation ceases, there is a real risk that UN agencies and NGOs will not be able to deliver life-saving aid over the coming months. Urgent action is needed and I support what Mark said also about the needs assessment.

The Secretary-General’s statement on 12 February reiterates the importance of the humanitarian operation. And I want to place on record how grateful we are for the work the UN is doing to ensure vital humanitarian work can continue. In these increasingly difficult conditions, it’s vital that we, as the international community, continue to support these efforts in a coordinated and coherent manner.

Madam President, I’d like to put on record our concerns also about the Central Bank of Yemen and the fact that it will imminently run out of foreign currency reserves. And this will cause major economic, humanitarian and political consequences in Yemen. Significant financial assistance on the scale of $1-2 billion is urgently needed to prevent this. And we look to the Government of Yemen to urgently come up with a 10 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

credible plan that reassures potential donors of their investments to the Yemeni people.

Turning to the Panel of Experts, Madam President, I want to thank and pay tribute to the Panel of Experts for their tireless work over the last year and to say that the UK will work with others on the Council and the Sanctions Committee to take forward their recommendations. The United Kingdom notes with concern the report’s finding of weapons of Iranian origin in Yemen. We recognise the panel’s finding of the Abqaiq Aramco attack. The Houthis simply did not have the capability to conduct such an attack. It’s also deeply troubling that the report’s findings on instances of intimidation and sexual violence against women in Houthi-controlled areas. This is unacceptable and I hope today the Council can reiterate our condemnation for such actions.

And just also to place on record, Madam President, our concerns about the Safer Oil Tanker and the vital necessity of dealing with that. We urge the Houthis to allow either the removal of the oil or repair mission to proceed and not to hold the environment hostage.Continued Houthi inaction on this issue is nothing short of reckless.

Thank you.

Escalation of violence in Yemen: Minister for the Middle East's statement Foreign and Commonwealth Office 27 January 2020

Following ongoing violence in Nehm and Al Jawf, Yemen, the Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Dr Andrew Murrison, met United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths in London on Monday 27 January.

Dr Andrew Murrison said:

The UK is following with concern the recent escalation of violence in Yemen. Following a period of reduced levels of violence, this represents a serious and dangerous step backwards.

We call on the parties to the conflict to exercise restraint, return to de-escalation efforts and prepare for direct UN- led negotiations to achieve a lasting political solution. The UK fully supports the efforts of UNSE Martin Griffiths.

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Bringing the political process forward in Yemen Foreign and Commonwealth Office 16 January 2020

Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Yemen:

Thank you very much, Mr President and welcome once again to the Special Envoy and also to the Director. And thank you for both of your briefings and also thank you for your tireless efforts and those of your team on this very acute problem. I think it’s clear from what we’ve heard today that a political settlement is the only way to bring long- term stability to Yemen and also address the humanitarian crisis.

The Security Council, this Council, has a vital role to play in supporting the peace process. And I’d therefore like to begin by welcoming the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2505 on Monday, renewing UNMHA’s mandate.

There’s a number of things I’d like to say, Mr President so I’ll break them down into different headings. On the Riyadh agreement, to start there, we strongly support the Saudi-brokered agreement. It’s vital to stabilising the south and key for an overall peace process. And therefore, the 9 January announcement of a military agreement to make progress on Riyadh, as well as the report of prisoner exchanges is very welcome. And I was interested in what, Martin, you had to say about reconvening the Prisoners Exchange Committee. So let’s hope that that goes well. Announcements do need to be followed by implementation on the ground and the formation of a new Yemeni government is critical to progress.

On de-escalation, I think it is very welcome that there has been a tangible decrease in inflammatory rhetoric and an apparent decrease in violence around the Saudi border. And that’s a good demonstration of political will. The announcement on 20 September that the Houthis would cease strikes on Saudi Arabia is particularly welcome. But obviously that needs to be properly enforced and carried out. And we mustn’t allow this small window of hope to close; I think that’s one message I took away from what you Martin was saying. It’s vital Yemen doesn’t become hostage to a wider regional crisis. And we do hope that the International Community can come together to press the Houthis not to become a vehicle for wider retaliation from Iran in the region.

Ultimately, though, as we know, any sustainable peace process needs to be underpinned by a comprehensive security agreement. And brazen strikes, such as the Iranian missile strike on Aramco last year, place that prize in jeopardy.

On the humanitarian side, Mr President, thank you to the Director for his briefing. I think the core message that stands out there is that this is still the largest humanitarian crisis. And it was alarming to hear that some of the factors that brought Yemen to the brink of famine are returning. So we share OCHA’s sense of urgency on this. We also hope that humanitarian workers can be allowed to do their work properly. 12 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

And we pay tribute to the work of the humanitarian coordinator and the country team.

What, Martin, you told us about WHO Mercy Flights is obviously extremely important and a bit of good news. I understand there have been intimidation of humanitarian workers and this is not limited to Houthi areas. And I just wanted to take this opportunity to support the statement that the emergency relief coordinator made on 23 December condemning attacks on the premises of several humanitarian organisations in Al-Dhale city in December. Aid workers must be allowed to deliver their lifesaving support in safety.

On the oil tanker, I think we can only echo what the Director said; we do need this issue to be resolved. The consequences of a rupture or explosion are phenomenal. So we urge the Houthis to let the UN assessment team have access to the tanker. Continued inaction can only be described as reckless. So we hope that can be resolved soon.

On the economy, this is obviously a very difficult issue. We continue to encourage constructive engagement on the economy. We look forward to an ongoing injection of hard currency and greater public financial transparency because the problem is the shortfall faced by the Central Bank is extremely concerning and could have serious implications for the humanitarian situation.

To come back to where I started, Mr President, I think all of this is obviously leading up to support for Martin as he tries to take the broader political process forward. But it’s clear from what we’ve heard today that we can’t afford any let-up in our support for that and the Special Envoy’s work.

Thank you.

UK government welcomes new Yemen peace agreement Foreign and Commonwealth Office 5 November 2019

An FCO spokesperson said:

The UK welcomes the signing of the Riyadh Agreement between the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council.

Recognising the difficult political, humanitarian and security situation in the South of Yemen, we applaud the efforts of Saudi Arabia in seeking to re-establish security and stability in the region.

We fully support the Saudi-mediated Riyadh Agreement as a positive and important step towards a comprehensive political solution for Yemen.

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Yemen joint communiqué, signed at UN General Assembly 2019 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 27 September 2019

Communiqué, signed by the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, Kuwait and Sweden, on supporting the UN-led peace process in Yemen:

1. Representatives of the Governments of France, Germany, Kuwait, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America met as a Group on Thursday 26 September 2019, to underline their continued support for the UN-led peace process in Yemen.

2. The Group underlines its full support for the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and calls on the Government of Yemen and the Houthis to engage constructively and continuously with him. The Group commends the tireless efforts of the Special Envoy to support the parties to implement the Stockholm Agreement and to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. In this regard, the Group reaffirms its commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen.

3. The Group emphasises the need for de-escalation and efforts by all parties to ensure that the conflict in Yemen is not further drawn into growing regional tensions. In this regard, the Group condemns in the strongest terms the increased intensity of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as such attacks pose a serious national security threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as a wider threat to regional security, and threaten to undermine the UN-led political process. In this context, the announcement on 20 September that the Houthis would cease strikes on Saudi Arabia is an important first step towards de-escalation which will need to be followed with positive action on the ground by the Houthis as well as restraint by the Coalition.

4. The Group reiterates the need to increase the pace and scale of the humanitarian response. It expresses its concern at reports that the UN is increasingly running out of funding, forced to scale back or stop life-saving activities. The Group is clear that a political settlement is the only way to address the humanitarian crisis, but given the risk of starvation faced by millions, the Group calls on all donors to disburse promptly their pledges to the UN humanitarian response. The Group expresses appreciation for the disbursement of $500 million by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UN on 25 September. It also calls on the conflict parties to facilitate safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2451. The Group calls on all parties to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law, including ensuring the protection of civilians.

5. Following the recent developments in the south of Yemen, the Group urges the invited parties to engage in the dialogue led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to preserve Yemen’s territorial integrity. 14 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

These developments give further urgency for the need to start a comprehensive and inclusive political process that will lead to an enduring political settlement to end the conflict in Yemen.

6. The Group reiterates its commitment to the Yemeni peace process and the relevant Security Council Resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution 2216, the Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, and the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference. In this regard, the Group expresses its full support for the UN Special Envoy’s plan to hold informal consultations with Yemeni political actors and establish a political advisory group in preparation for the resumption of formal negotiations. The Group calls on the Yemeni parties to engage constructively with the Special Envoy to resume inclusive and comprehensive political discussions which can end the conflict.

7. The Stockholm Agreement remains an important element of the Yemen peace process and should be implemented as envisaged in order to alleviate the humanitarian situation, create confidence between the parties, and improve the conditions for political talks. To gain momentum, the Group calls on the Yemeni parties to respect the ceasefire in Hodeidah and participate constructively in negotiations on implementation of Hodeidah Agreement. In particular, the Group expresses its full support for UNMHA and calls on the Yemeni parties to engage constructively with the Mission as well as with UN proposals on security arrangements, which will allow for disengagement and the mutual withdrawal of military forces, tripartite monitoring and the establishment of the UNVIM presence. The Group further calls on the Yemeni parties to engage with UN proposals to establish a mechanism for redirecting port revenues to salary payments. It also calls on the parties to start implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement as soon as possible. However, lack of full implementation of the Stockholm Agreements should not prevent the parties from participation in the Special Envoy’s process toward a broader political settlement to end the conflict.

8. The Group looks to the Security Council to review progress when they next meet. The Group also agreed to continue to meet regularly at different levels and with other partners in order to support the UN-led peace process.

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4. PQs

Yemen 19 Mar 2020 | 802 cc1534-6

Asked by: The Lord Bishop of St Albans To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to tackle the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Answering member: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development My Lords, the humanitarian situation in Yemen remains the worst in the world. Some 80% of the population require humanitarian assistance. Alongside our diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, we have provided over £200 million in aid this current financial year. This has met the immediate food needs of more than 1 million Yemenis each month during the year. However, we are clear that the only way to address the humanitarian crisis is through a political settlement.

Asked by: The Lord Bishop of St Albans I thank the Minister for his reply and for the hard work that I know he and his colleagues are putting into this situation. However, Yemen is now also suffering terrible outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria, and now Covid-19 has come along as well. So the airports have been closed. What are Her Majesty’s Government able to do to ensure that food supplies, aid and medicines are still actually getting into the country and getting where they are needed?

Answering member: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon The right reverend Prelate raises an important point. Humanitarian assistance continues to operate through the two southern ports, Hodeidah and Saleef, which remain open. However, there are challenges in the distribution of humanitarian relief. The right reverend Prelate is right to raise the issues of various contagious diseases; 900,000 cases of cholera have been reported this year alone. As far as the Covid crisis is concerned, currently no fatalities from the crisis are shown and the number of cases is very low—but that is reflective of the challenge on the ground rather than there being a very small number of cases. We are operating under very difficult circumstances, and because of the situation around Covid there has also been a drawdown of essential staff, including from the UN, in Yemen itself.

Asked by: Lord Collins of Highbury My Lords, yesterday’s Guardian published a horrific report about the targeting of hospitals and doctors during the conflict in recent times by all sides in the conflict. I understand that that report may even form the basis of evidence-gathering for future war-crimes positions. Can the Minister tell us a little more about how we are securing evidence, and how we are challenging both the coalition and the Houthis to stop these crimes against humanity?

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Answering member: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon My Lords, the noble Lord is right to raise that question, but he will also be aware of the desperate situation on the ground. For example, there has been a 70% increase in violence against women since the conflict began, and the issue of documenting such crimes, let alone bringing the perpetrators to justice, is going to be a very tall order. Nevertheless we continue to support the efforts of the UN, including those of the special envoy Martin Griffiths, in this respect. I assure the noble Lord that wherever we have influence, including with those involved directly in the crisis such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we are seeking to bring that to bear.

Asked by: Baroness Sheehan My Lords, can the Minister comment on what appear to be large underspends in DfID programmes in Yemen? I will highlight two, which are both scheduled to end at the end of this month: support for displaced people and migrants, which has a budget of £36 million and a spend to date £22.6 million, and the Yemen multisector humanitarian response programme, which has a budget of £92 million and a spend of just under £80 million. What are the reasons behind this? Can the Minister give the House some indication as to what degree it is our friends and allies—I use those words advisedly—in the Saudi-led coalition who are raising obstacles to aid distribution?

Answering member: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon My Lords, as the noble Baroness may well be aware, the major obstacle to aid distribution is in the north of the country; current estimates suggest that 7 million people are affected in that part of Yemen, which is an all-time high. The situation has been exacerbated because that area is controlled by the Houthis. The noble Baroness will be further aware that they have sought to impose a 2% levy on all distribution of humanitarian aid. As Her Majesty’s Government—I am sure she acknowledges this—we are responsible for every penny of aid that is spent. It is important that this is done in a responsible manner. She should not judge the underspend but rather the effective delivery of aid to reach the most vulnerable that we are seeking to secure through UN agencies. The situation is desperate: 80% of the population are in need of humanitarian aid, but the main situation is exacerbated in the north.

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool Can the Minister confirm the figures being given by ACLED that, so far in this terrible war, 100,000 people have been killed including 12,000 civilians, that 85,000 people have died as a result of the famine that has ensued from the war, and that approximately 130 children are dying every single day? Is this not the moment for us to appeal to the Governments of both Iran and Saudi Arabia to urge their proxies to end this war, not least in the current circumstances where people will now be dying of the coronavirus? In this situation, does the Minister really think that anyone will be collecting data on the number of fatalities from the virus?

Answering member: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon In answer to the noble Lord’s final question, it is extremely challenging to be able to ascertain that data, not least because of the challenges to our ability to access the most vulnerable, which I raised earlier in The situation in Yemen 17

response to the noble Baroness, Lady Sheehan. I agree on the specific statistics. I do not have the detail in front of me, but those figures resonate with the figures we have been using at DfID. When I spoke of 80% of the population, that is 24.1 million people in Yemen who need humanitarian assistance. On calling time, yes, absolutely; we are supporting UN efforts and imploring all sides—including, indeed, those operating through proxies and those with influence, namely the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran—to call time. People are suffering, people need help and it should happen now.

Asked by: Lord Adonis My Lords, does the Minister think it would help the situation in Yemen if the United Kingdom did not sell arms to Saudi Arabia?

Answering member: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon My Lords, that question has come up before. We operate a very rigorous regime in this regard. I note, as the noble Lord, Lord Campbell, is in his place, that I have written specifically on that. There was an issue about licences being issued by the Department for International Trade. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has responded and there is a detailed report in that regard laid in the Library of the House.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights 17 Mar 2020 | 673 cc784-7

[…]

Asked by: Fabian Hamilton This week will mark five years since the start of the war in Yemen. That war has seen the Saudi Government bomb Yemeni civilians in their thousands and starve them in their millions, with callous indifference and complete impunity. After five years, when will the Secretary of State finally bring forward a resolution demanding a full independent UN-led investigation of these appalling war crimes?

Answering member: Dominic Raab We are focused on bringing that terrible conflict—I agree with the hon. Gentleman about that—to an end. We want pressure to be put on the Houthis, and also a positive dynamic. Probably the single biggest issue that I raised with my Saudi counterparts was an end to the conflict in Yemen, which will require all the relevant actors to come together. There is a political dialogue through the UN. We want confidence- building measures that will lead to a proper political dialogue, and to get that issue and the conflict resolved. There is a window of opportunity in 2020 to achieve that, and we will be working very hard with all the relevant actors to secure it.

Asked by: Fabian Hamilton While we are trying to get somewhere on war crimes in Yemen, may I ask the Secretary of State about another imminent anniversary? It is 18 months since Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul. At the time we were promised, from the Government Dispatch Box, a credible investigation to find out who ordered his murder, with serious 18 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

consequences to follow as a result. Almost a year and a half on, can the Secretary of State explain why we are still waiting?

Answering member: Dominic Raab I think that the hon. Gentleman will know that there is a certain limit to what we can actually force Saudi Arabia to do. There has been a trial. There have been criticisms and concerns about that, but some have been held to account. We continue to raise the issue. I raised it when I was in Riyadh on 4 and 5 March. We do not shy away from it or, most importantly, from getting the reassurance—as well as the accountability that he wishes—that something like this will never happen again.

[…]

Asked by: Alyn Smith I am grateful for the answer, and I was struck by the Foreign Secretary’s earlier point that we can only force the Saudis to do so much. However, we could stop selling them guns, tanks and bombs, and we could actually put some ethics into our foreign policy and prioritise the rights of the people in Yemen and the children who are currently suffering so badly as a result of the conflict. I am struck that the Saudis are indeed a partner in that war in terms of promoting the peace, but they are also a partner in that war full stop. I think that the UK could be rather more muscular in our discussions regarding that point.

Answering member: Dominic Raab The hon. Gentleman will of course know about the efforts—in particular with the UN envoy, Martin Griffiths—to bring an end to that conflict, and we have been tireless in supporting, pursuing and supplementing them. Of course a lot of the diplomacy will go on behind the scenes.

The hon. Gentleman mentions arms exports. We have one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. We have carefully considered the implications of the Court of Appeal’s judgment, for example, and we will make sure that we are always compliant. However, the reality is that our focus has been on, as the hon. Gentleman mentioned, raising human rights issues when necessary, and also on trying to bring all the parties, including the Houthi rebels, to the table to have a proper political dialogue that can end the conflict in the interests of all the people in Yemen.

Asked by: Scott Benton Does my right hon. Friend agree that only through constructive dialogue with Saudi Arabia can we hasten progress on issues of human rights and the ongoing conflict in Yemen?

Answering member: Dominic Raab My hon. Friend is right, and we are listened to more because we engage and try to exert positive influence. Equally, however, we will not be shy or retiring in raising those issues. We raised them in the Human Rights Council statement in March 2019, and in other UN forums. As I said, when I was in Riyadh recently, we raised those issues bilaterally with all senior interlocutors.

The situation in Yemen 19

Yemen: Military Intervention 05 Mar 2020 | 23573

Asked by: Alyn Smith To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he is taking steps to investigate attacks against Oxfam infrastructure and projects in Yemen.

Answering member: James Cleverly | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Government is deeply concerned by attacks against Oxfam infrastructure and projects in Yemen. We urge all parties to the conflict to respect and act in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Whenever we receive reports of alleged violations of IHL, including any attacks against Oxfam, we routinely seek information from all credible sources, including from Non-Governmental Organisations and international organisations.

Hamed bin Haydara 03 Mar 2020 | 20444

Asked by: Martin Vickers To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received any reports on recent court appearances by Hamed bin Haydara in Yemen.

Answering member: James Cleverly | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office We are monitoring the case of Hamed bin Haydara, and we understand the appeal against his death sentence is ongoing. We strongly condemn the death sentence and the continued persecution of the Baha'i in Yemen for their religious beliefs. We meet often with the Baha'i representatives in London who keep us updated on the situation. We call on the parties to the conflict to respect the human rights of all Yemenis.

Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade 03 Mar 2020 | 18607

Asked by: Caroline Lucas To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 19 July 2019 to Question 275727 on Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia, what reports he received from (a) 26 January to 9 July 2018, (b) 9 July 2018 to 24 July 2019 and (c) 24 July 2019 to date on the letter from the Panel of Experts on Yemen mandated by Security Council resolution 2342 (2017) to the President of the UN Security Council dated 26 January 2018.

Answering member: James Cleverly | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office The UK operates a rigorous and comprehensive export control regime. We will not issue any export licences when there is a clear risk of a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law. We consider a wide 20 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

range of sources when assessing arms licenses against the Consolidated Criteria, including classified and open source information, and reporting we receive from Non-Governmental Organisations. This includes reports by the UN Panel of Experts, which issues an Annual Report and a Mid- Term Report. The UK receives these as a member of the Security Council and they have been included in our export licensing decision making process.

Yemen: Arms Trade 25 Feb 2020 | 15125

Asked by: Emily Thornberry To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade to ensuring compliance with international law in relation to export licences for arms that could be used in the war in Yemen.

Answering member: James Cleverly | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Government's position remains that until we retake our licensing decisions in line with the 2019 court judgment, we will not issue any new licences for exports to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners for possible use in the conflict in Yemen.

Yemen: Humanitarian Situation 24 Feb 2020 | 673

Asked by: Dan Carden To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Answering member: James Cleverly | Department: Department for International Development Yemen remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with nearly 80% of the entire population, over 24 million people, requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. More than 20 million people in Yemen do not have reliable access to food and almost 10 million people face extreme food shortages.

The UK is increasingly concerned by the constraints placed on the international humanitarian response in Houthi-controlled areas of northern Yemen. In line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2451, we are calling on all parties to facilitate unhindered access for humanitarian actors and agencies and ensure that humanitarian workers are able to conduct their work safely and without harm.

A political settlement is the only way to fully address the humanitarian crisis and we encourage further constructive engagement from all parties to achieve this.

The situation in Yemen 21

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid 24 Feb 2020 | 671

Asked by: Dan Carden To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to improve access for humanitarian agencies operating in Yemen.

Answering member: James Cleverly | Department: Department for International Development The UK is increasingly concerned by the constraints placed on the international humanitarian response in Houthi-controlled areas of northern Yemen. In line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2451, we are calling on all parties to facilitate unhindered access for humanitarian actors and agencies and ensure that humanitarian workers are able to conduct their work safely and without harm.

In mid-February, donors (including the UK), International Non- Governmental Organisations and the United Nations met in Brussels and agreed to move forward with a coordinated response to improve access for humanitarian agencies operating in Yemen, including reducing aid if restrictions are not lifted.

Yemen: Armed Conflict 10 Feb 2020 | HL934

Asked by: The Marquess of Lothian To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation in Yemen, following the briefing by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, to an emergency session of the UN Security Council on 28 January, in which he warned that the ongoing military escalation "had to end" and that efforts to support de- escalation and confidence-building in the country were in jeopardy; and what action they are taking to support the peace process in Yemen.

Answering member: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office We are concerned about recent heavy clashes in the Nehm and Al-Jawf regions and fully support the UN Special Envoy’s statement of 22 January calling on the parties to adhere to their commitments and avoid further escalation. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa issued a statement condemning the increased fighting and met with the UN Special Envoy on 27 January. The UK requested the emergency session of the UN Security Council on 28 January to discuss with international partners how to respond to this development. We are engaging with the parties to appeal for calm. We urge all sides to refrain from destabilising military activity, return to de-escalation efforts, and work with the UN Special Envoy towards a political solution.

22 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

Yemen: International Assistance 05 Nov 2019 | 8612

Asked by: Jane Dodds To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on improving humanitarian access in Yemen.

Answering member: Dr Andrew Murrison | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office In September, under UK leadership, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, Kuwait and Sweden, met and signed a communiqué reiterating the need to increase the pace and scale of the humanitarian response. The Group was clear that a political settlement is the only way to address the humanitarian crisis, but given the risk of starvation faced by millions in Yemen, the Group called on all donors to disburse promptly their pledges to the UN humanitarian response. It also called on the conflict parties to facilitate safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access in compliance with Security Council Resolution 2451. Our Permanent Representative to the UN also reiterated the need to bolster efforts on humanitarian access in her statement of 17 October to the UN Security Council.

Yemen: UN Security Council 28 Oct 2019 | 4324

Asked by: Dan Jarvis To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has for the production of UN Security Council (a) statements and (b) other documents on Yemen during the UK presidency of that Council in November 2019.

Answering member: Dr Andrew Murrison | Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office We are exploring options of how best to use our presidency of the UN Security Council to support Martin Griffiths’ efforts. We regularly draft UN Security Council statements showing the Council’s support for the UN-led peace process. On 26 September, the UK co-hosted a political event at the UN General Assembly to coordinate the international community’s support for the UN-led peace process and secured P5 + 3 agreement to a statement that endorsed the Special Envoy’s plan to begin wider political discussions. Our work at the Security Council has helped to corral international support for UN Special Envoy and we will continue to use our role as penholder to support the UN-led peace process.

The situation in Yemen 23

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid 21 Oct 2019 | 422

Asked by: Laurence Robertson To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Answering member: Dr Andrew Murrison | Department: Department for International Development Yemen remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with nearly 80% of the entire population, over 24 million people, requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. More than 20 million people in Yemen do not have reliable access to food and almost 10 million people face extreme food shortages.

The UK is providing £200 million in response to this humanitarian crisis this financial year, bringing the total UK commitment to Yemen to £770 million since the conflict began in 2015. This support is meeting the immediate food needs of more than 1 million Yemenis each month, treating 70,000 children for malnutrition and providing over 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation.

We are clear that a political settlement is the only way to fully address the humanitarian crisis and we encourage further constructive engagement from all parties to achieve this.

24 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

5. Debates

Yemen Peace Process 23 May 2019 | 660 cc836-869 Motion that this House notes that 22 May 2019 is the 28th anniversary of the unification of Yemen, when that country emerged from a long and painful civil war; further notes that today Yemen is once again in a deep and pitiful state of conflict, having entered the fifth year of its current, tragic war; acknowledges that the most recent estimate places the death toll in excess of 70,000, of which 10,000 have died in the last five months alone; notes that Yemen remains in the midst of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, in which at least 85,000 children have starved to death and almost 200,000 have contracted cholera in 2019 alone; commends the work of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, who brought opposing sides together for agreements including on a ceasefire in the Al-Hodeidah Governate; regrets that the implementation of those agreements has been slow or non-existent; and calls on the Government to take every possible measure to support an immediate ceasefire, the flow of humanitarian aid and further peace talks in Yemen. Agreed to on question.

Yemen: Giving Peace a Chance (International Relations Committee Report) 01 Apr 2019 | 797 cc36-61 Lords motion to take note of the report of the International Relations Committee on Yemen: giving peace a chance (HL 290). Agreed to on question.

Yemen 28 Feb 2019 | 655 cc632-640 Agreed to on question.

Yemen 15 Nov 2018 | 793 cc2061-2075 Lords question for short debate on what steps they are taking with international partners to end the conflict in Yemen.

The situation in Yemen 25

6. Statements

Update on Independent Investigation into Export Licences for Saudi Arabia Issued in Breach of Court Undertaking 06 Feb 2020 | HCWS101

Elizabeth Truss (Secretary of State for International Trade): I gave a statement to Parliament on 26 September 2019 on matters related to the breaches of the Undertaking given to the Court of Appeal on 20 June 2019 by the then Secretary of State that we would not grant new licences for export to Saudi Arabia of arms and military equipment for possible use in the conflict in Yemen, and the broader commitment to Parliament, also on 20 June 2019, that we would not grant new licences for exports to Saudi Arabia or its Coalition partners which might be used in the conflict in Yemen.

The UK Government is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The Government fully supports the peace process led by the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, and urges the parties to engage constructively with this process. A political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.

In relation to the breaches, I announced that the Permanent Secretary had commissioned, on my behalf, a full independent investigation to establish the precise circumstances in which these licences were granted, establish whether any other licences have been granted in breach of the Undertaking to the Court or contrary to the Parliamentary Statement, and confirm that procedures are in place so that no further breaches of the Undertaking can occur.

This investigation, led by an independent senior official (the Director General of Policy Group in the Department for Work and Pensions), has now concluded. The report identifies the circumstances in which these licences were granted and assesses the interim procedures which were put in place to ensure no further breaches can occur. It is noted that no further breaches of the Undertaking or the Parliamentary Statement have been identified since I updated the House.

The report notes the steps that have been taken to ensure that there have been no further breaches. In particular, the report states that the “new processes established address the shortcomings that led to the breaches… The process has a greater iterative and real-time involvement, with the weekly meeting process providing more opportunities for information to be updated and changes in circumstances to be reflected in decision-making. There is greater senior involvement and oversight which should strengthen assurance.”

The interim process has led to improved, timely information sharing across government and there is now a clear process in place to ensure that any changes in circumstances in the conflict in Yemen are addressed. Further steps have already been taken forward, including increased governance and risk management within the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), to meet the issues identified in the report. 26 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

I will be considering whether any further action is necessary to ensure the continuance of robust and rigorous operations and assurance processes more widely within ECJU.

I will be placing copies of the report in the Libraries of the House.

Foreign Affairs Council – 18 March 2019 28 Mar 2019 | HCWS1463

Sir Alan Duncan (Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs): My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 18 March. It was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HRVP), Federica Mogherini. The meeting was held in Brussels.

[…]

Yemen Ministers recalled that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Yemen and that the only way forward was the full implementation of the Stockholm agreement. They stressed the need to keep up the political momentum and to push the parties to fulfil urgently their commitments, as well as the need to see immediate progress on the ground.

The Council reiterated the EU’s full support for the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and his efforts in finding a lasting, sustainable, enforceable, inclusive and negotiated political solution within a UN-led framework. Foreign Ministers highlighted in particular the importance of fully involving Yemeni women in the political process, and expressed concern at the lack of improvement in the dire humanitarian situation, especially access for humanitarian aid. The Council reiterated that the EU and its member states would continue their humanitarian assistance efforts and lend political support as necessary.

[…]

Foreign Secretary visit to the Middle East and the situation in Yemen 07 Mar 2019 | HCWS1383

Mr Jeremy Hunt (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs): The United Nations describes the situation in Yemen as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Of a population of less than 30 million people, 24 million depend on aid for their food and medicines. The number of children treated for malnutrition exceeds 420,000. The number who have died from starvation is estimated to be in excess of 85,000. Behind these stark numbers are individual men, women and children. Their suffering is caused not by natural disaster but by man-made conflict. I will update the House on my visit to the The situation in Yemen 27

region and my judgement about the prospects for the Stockholm peace process. I want to start by commending the extraordinary efforts of UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, without whom Stockholm would not have happened.

My message on this trip to all parties was simple: the ceasefire in Hodeidah, the first sustained ceasefire since the conflict began four years ago, is in peril. It will not last unless what was agreed is implemented in full – and time is running out.

On Sunday, I was the first Western foreign minister to visit Yemen since the war began. I travelled to Aden where I met the Deputy Prime Minister of the legitimate Government of Yemen, along with the Foreign Minister and the Interior Minister. Our talks were in the presidential palace where the scars of battle were visible. I emphasised how all sides must redeploy their forces away from the port of Hodeidah. The Stockholm agreement requires them to hand over control to neutral local security forces “in accordance with Yemeni law and answering to local state institutions.”That matters because Hodeidah is the entry point for about 70 percent of Yemen’s food imports. Over 50,000 metric tonnes of grain from the World Food Programme are stored in the port. Unless the withdrawal happens they cannot be distributed to the rest of the country. I ask the House to reflect on the obscenity of people starving to death in a country where food is just sitting idly in a port because warring parties will not allow it to be released. But a ceasefire in Hodeidah was also meant to be the first step to a nationwide ceasefire. If trust can be established there, it has the potential to be a bridge to the lasting political settlement sought by all sides. But if it cannot, and Stockholm is not implemented rapidly, the ceasefire will end and the prospects for humanitarian relief evaporate.

After meeting government of Yemen representatives, I travelled by helicopter to Aden’s port where a United Nations official described the unique challenges of distributing aid in a country torn by conflict.

I also met Mohammed Abdulsalam, spokesman for the Houthis, in Oman. I listened carefully to their concern but also delivered a candid message about the need to act quickly to save the Stockholm agreement. I also requested humanitarian access for UN helicopters and NGOs, which is currently either impeded or prevented.

I also travelled to Saudi Arabia where I met President Hadi of Yemen and his foreign minister as well as my Saudi counterparts, Adel al-Jubeir and Ibrahim al-Assaf.

Finally, I visited the United Arab Emirates, where I held talks with my counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. I welcomed the restraint shown by the Saudi-led coalition in Hodeidah since the Stockholm agreement but also reiterated my judgement that no side in this conflict can achieve outright military victory. The only way ahead is a negotiated political settlement. In the meantime, Britain and our allies are doing everything possible to alleviate the human suffering. Last month, my RH Friend the Prime Minister announced another £200 million of British aid 28 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

for Yemen, enough to treat 20,000 children for malnutrition and provide food for 3.8 million people for a month.

This year, the UN has asked for over £3.2 billion to cope with the emergency in Yemen – the largest humanitarian appeal ever. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have each pledged over £570 million. But the people of Yemen cannot be left to depend on outside aid forever. From my meetings in the region, I concluded that all parties genuinely want Stockholm to succeed, but there is a profound lack of trust and a deep reluctance to take the necessary steps in case they are not reciprocated. But in any successful peace process, all sides must take risks that are deeply uncomfortable. The government of Yemen are understandably worried that without military pressure, the Houthis will not negotiate seriously. The Houthis, meanwhile, do not wish to hand over Hodeidah to any force that might be under government control.

I told all sides that the only way to truly build confidence is for all parties to do precisely what they promised in Sweden, including not just leaving Hodeidah but also prisoner exchanges, paying salaries to government employees, and allowing full humanitarian access to UN agencies. We then need to move rapidly on to discuss a long term political settlement, including the creation of a government of national unity in which all sides are represented. The Stockholm peace process is our best chance yet to end this war. But the window for implementing it is closing. In the critical weeks that lie ahead, Britain will use every diplomatic and humanitarian lever we have to ensure this opportunity does not slip away.

The situation in Yemen 29

7. Early Day Motions

Accountability for violations in Yemen EDM 17 (session 2019-19) Ann Clwyd 15 October 2019

That this House expresses deep concern at the catastrophic human cost of the war in Yemen, where hundreds of thousands of Yemeni civilians have been killed in the fighting and by disease and where millions have been deeply traumatised, are cut off from vital aid and are on the brink of starvation; notes the release of the report by the UN Group of Eminent Experts on the Yemen in September, which highlights the potential complicity of countries selling arms and providing other assistance to the Saudi-led coalition, including the UK, the US and France, in light of alleged ongoing violations of international law by the coalition; further notes the need to investigate and prosecute a number of politicians and military officers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemeni Government military forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel movement; stresses the need for all warring parties to respect their international humanitarian obligations and to agree a total ceasefire and an end to the conflict; and calls on the UK Government, which is the penholder at the UN Security Council on Yemen, to suspend all arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to support the negotiation of a ceasefire and a political settlement, and to ensure, with others in the international community, that those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law are held to account.

UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia EDM 2556 (session 2017-19) Jonathan Edwards 27 June 2019

That this House recognises the decision by the Court of Appeal to rule UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia as unlawful; regrets that the UK has licenced nearly £5 billion of arms exports to Saudi Arabia since the start of the Yemen war, in which Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition of airstrikes; further regrets the bombing in Yemen has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, which, according to the UN, has seen at least 7,070 civilians being killed and 11,205 injured, with 65 per cent of deaths attributed to Saudi-led coalition air strikes; and urges the UK Government to comply with the court ruling to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia and all other repressive regimes.

30 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

Violence in Yemen and the Middle East EDM 2494 (session 2017-19) Keith Vaz 17 June 2019

That this House expresses its concern at the recent escalation of violence in Yemen and the surrounding region; condemns the Houthi missile strikes on Abha airport in Saudi Arabia on 13 June 2019, in which 26 civilians were wounded; notes that this came only one month after Houthi forces claimed armed drone strikes on Saudi oil pump stations; condemns the attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, also on 13 June 2019; deplores the Coalition airstrikes carried out on the same day in Sana’a; recognises the unforgivable continuation of this violence, when over 70,000 have died in the war in Yemen; and calls for all sides in Yemen to implement the Stockholm Agreement to achieve peace.

Yemen peace process EDM 2484 (session 2017-19) Clive Betts 13 June 2019

That this House welcomes efforts to continue the peace process in Yemen with all the relevant parties engaged in the Yemen war; recognises the strong historical ties between South Yemen, Aden in particular, and the UK; welcomes the strong and current cooperation between the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and political groups in southern Yemen; requests that development aid and help should support the population of South Yemen, in particular through the work of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; calls on the Government to facilitate an independent review of UK policy towards Yemen; recognises the need for an international political settlement that includes an immediate end to this unnecessary war; and notes that the region could be a beacon of peace and stability.

Yemen Day 2019 EDM 2419 (session 2017-19) Keith Vaz 22 May 2019

That this House notes that Yemen Day fell on 22 May 2019, marking Yemen's National Yemen Day and the 29th anniversary of the country's unification; is saddened that rather than celebrate this Yemenis continue to endure the brutal war that has lasted more than four years, killing over 70,000 people; believes that the implementation of a UN-led peace process is essential to bring stability to the country; further notes that a letter was sent to the Foreign Secretary calling for peace in Yemen signed by 86 officials from four chambers; deplores that over 19,000 airstrikes have hit Yemen, and the indiscriminate harm caused by landmines; and demands an immediate ceasefire in Yemen that can lead to a lasting peace.

The situation in Yemen 31

Fourth anniversary of the war in Yemen EDM 2217 (session 2017-19) Keith Vaz 22 March 2019

That this House notes with deep sadness that 26 March 2019 marks the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in Yemen during which an estimated 60,000 people have been killed; further notes that despite the Stockholm Agreement, an average of three civilians a day are still dying and that 22.2 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance; commends aid agencies including Oxfam, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Islamic Relief, Médecins Sans Frontières, Action Against Hunger, International Rescue Committee and Care International, which have highlighted in the last 10 days the terrible plight of the Yemeni people; urges all sides involved in the fighting to implement the peace agreements made in Stockholm, including the mutual redeployment of forces in Hodeidah; implores authorities to allow in humanitarian aid without delay; and calls for an immediate nationwide ceasefire and further peace talks.

32 Number CDP-0069, 20 March 2020

8. Further reading Library Briefing Papers

Yemen’s fragile peace process Commons Briefing Paper CBP-8536 27 March 2019

Select Committee reports

Yemen: giving peace a chance House of Lords Select Committee on International Relations 6th Report of Session 2017–19 HL Paper 290 16 February 2019

The use of UK‑manufactured arms in Yemen House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills and International Development Committees First Joint Report of the Business, Innovation and Skills and International Development Committees of Session 2016–17 HC 679 15 September 2016

Crisis in Yemen House of Commons International Development Committee Fourth Report of Session 2015–16 HC 532 4 May 2016

United Nations documentation

UN documents for Yemen

Including UN Security Council Resolutions:

• S/RES/2511 25 February 2020 This resolution renewed the Yemen sanctions regime for one year.

• S/RES/2505 13 January 2020 This resolution extended the mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement until 15 July 2020.

• S/RES/2481 15 July 2019 This resolution renewed the mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement for six months until 15 January 2020. The situation in Yemen 33

Websites

Yemen, Amnesty International

Yemen, Human Rights Watch

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