- Theresa May is visiting Saudi Arabia as part of a three day tour of the region
- The UK has licensed £4.6 billion worth of arms to the Saudi regime since the conflict began in March 2015
- After almost three years of war, Yemen is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world
Campaign Against Arms Trade has urged Theresa May to use her ongoing visit to Saudi Arabia to call for an end to the blockade that the Saudi regime has inflicted on Yemen, and to put a stop to the UK’s political and military support for the ongoing bombardment.
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
For almost three years, the Saudi regime has waged a terrible war on Yemen. UK arms sales and support have underpinned the bombardment every step of the way. Theresa May is right to raise the issue of the devastating blockade, but the best thing she can do for the people of Yemen is to end the arms sales . How many more will die before May and her colleagues finally stop putting arms company profits ahead of Yemeni lives?
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 continued:
The Saudi dictatorship has one of the worst human rights records in the entire world. It has suppressed and abused the Saudi population for decades, and now it is inflicting an awful humanitarian crisis on the people of Yemen. The blockade has only made a dire situation worse. It doesn’t just need to be tweaked or altered, it needs to be lifted altogether so that aid can reach the millions that need it.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297.
