- UN agencies have called on Saudi Arabia to lift the ongoing blockade of Yemen
- The UK has licensed £4.6 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia since the bombardment of Yemen began in March 2015
- Saudi Arabia is by far the world’s largest buyer of UK arms
Campaign Against Arms Trade supports the call from three UN agencies (the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the World Food Programme) for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen to end its blockade, which has stopped vital humanitarian supplies from entering Yemen.
The UN agencies warn that more than 20 million people, including over 11 million children, are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, at least 14.8 million are without basic healthcare and an outbreak of cholera has resulted in more than 900,000 suspected cases.
Last week the UN humanitarian chief warned that Yemen is facing the world’s worst famine in decades.
Despite the humanitarian crisis, the UK government has continued to arm and support the Saudi regime. Since the ongoing bombardment began in 2015, the UK has licensed £4.6 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, including:
- £2.7 billion worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
- £1.9 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:
A terrible humanitarian catastrophe has been inflicted on the people of Yemen, and the immoral blockade is making it even worse. Food and medical equipment is not reaching those who need it, putting millions of lives at risk.
Despite this, and despite the atrocities its forces have inflicted on Yemen over the last two and a half years, the Saudi regime has been given uncritical political and military support by Downing Street. It’s time for Theresa May and her colleagues to finally take a stand by clearly and unambiguously calling for the blockade to be lifted and ending the arms sales which have fuelled this awful war.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297.
