- UN has accused the Saudi-led coalition of killing 42 civilians this week
- Over 500,000 suspected cases of cholera in Yemen
- UK has licensed £3.8 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since bombing began in March 2015
New figures from the United Nations indicate that Saudi-led forces have killed 42 civilians in Yemen the past week, including children.
On Wednesday, Saudi forces were accused of bombing a hotel just outside Sanaa, killing dozens of civilians. Further air strikes are believed to have destroyed homes in the Yemeni capital, killing a further 14 civillians.
The bombing has intensified over recent months, with the UN confirming that Yemen has suffered more air strikes in the first half of this year than in the whole of 2016.
Despite this, the UK has continued to arm the Saudi regime. Since the bombing of Yemen began in March 2015, the UK has licensed £3.8 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, including:
- £2.6 billion worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
- £1.1 billion worth of ML4 licences (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
- £572,000 worth of ML6 licences (Armoured vehicles, tanks)
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
The bombardment of Yemen is getting even worse, and yet the arms sales are still flowing. The UK has licensed billions of fighter jets and bombs to the Saudi-led coalition, at the same time as it is inflicting a brutal humanitarian crisis on the people of Yemen. If there is to be a peaceful solution in Yemen then it cannot come from more arms sales and bombings.
At the same time, the World Health Organisation has found over 500,000 suspected cases of cholera in Yemen, a deadly and totally avoidable disease. The cholera threat has been exacerbated by the ongoing war and the collapse of vital and life-saving infrastructure.
A recent analysis by Oxfam found it to be the worst cholera crisis on record, with researchers reaching the horrifying conclusion that “more people in Yemen have contracted cholera than any country has suffered in a single year since modern records began.”
Andrew continued:
The cholera crisis is devastating, but it is a man-made crisis that has been exacerbated by the conflict and the breakdown of vital infrastructure. The UK has been totally complicit in the suffering and destruction right from the start. If the UK government wants to do what’s best for Yemen then it must end the arms sales and stop its uncritical support for the brutal Saudi dictatorship.
Next month the DSEI arms fair will be taking place in East London, with Saudi Arabia expected to be among attendees.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297 or 07990 673232.
