LONDON: The UK on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to support for the humanitarian response in Yemen, highlighting the more than $190 million in aid it provided last year. It comes as concerns grow over worsening food insecurity across the country.
Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the country, which has been locked in civil war for 12 years, UK envoy Jennifer MacNaughtan said that with more than 18 million people facing food insecurity, Britain remained committed to working with its international partners to reach vulnerable communities with aid.
She warned that many Yemeni families have been forced to adopt extreme coping mechanisms, including selling their homes and land to afford basic necessities, and forecasts indicate the conditions are likely to deteriorate further in the coming months.
“Last year, the UK provided over $190 million towards the humanitarian response in Yemen, and we remain committed to supporting these efforts and working collectively with partners to reach those most in need,” MacNaughtan said.
It came as the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said the recent US-Iran nuclear agreement could provide a rare opportunity to revive the long-stalled peace process in Yemen.
