- World Health Organisation statistics show 600,000 people in Yemen diagnosed with cholera
- UK has licensed £3.8 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since bombing of Yemen began in March 2015
- Saudi Arabia expected to be among those invited to DSEI arms fair in London next week
New figures from the World Health Organisation and Yemen Health Ministry show that over 600,000 people have been diagnosed with cholera, a life threatening disease. It has killed over 2000 Yemeni people in the last four months.
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 Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is getting worse, and there is no end in sight for those on the receiving end. The war has been waged for two and a half years, yet the chances of peace look remote.
The war has been fuelled by UK fighter jets and bombs, and the uncritical political and military support that governments like the UK have offered to the Saudi regime.
Despite the appaling humanitarian catastrophe, 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)
The Saudi dictatorship and its military are expected to send representatives to the DSEI arms fair, which is taking place in London next week. It is one of the biggest arms fairs in the world. The guest list has yet to be published, but Saudi Arabia is by far the largest buyer of UK arms and has been at all recent events.
Andrew continued:
The Saudi military will almost certainly be among the human rights abusers invited to London to buy weapons at the DSEI arms fair next week. While there, they will be given the full red carpet treatment, greeted by civil servants and Ministers and introduced to the biggest arms companies in the world. Arms sales, and events like DSEI, can only make a terrible situation even worse.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297 or 07990 673232.
