- The Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has backed calls for a ceasefire in Yemen
- Since the war in Yemen began in March 2015, the UK has licensed almost £5 billion worth or arms to the Saudi military
- The three and a half year bombing campaign has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world
The UK government has urged the UN Security Council to act over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, saying there now “appears to be a window” for a peace deal.
This follows documentation from the UN that shows Yemen is on the verge of the worst famine anywhere in the world for 100 years.
UK government statistics show that since the bombing of Yemen began in 2015, the UK has licensed £4.7 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)
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
The crisis in Yemen is the worst in the world, and it is one that UK arms have been central to creating.
No matter how dire the situation has become, Government ministers have done everything they can to maintain arms sales and political ties to the Saudi dictatorship.
The calls for a ceasefire must be welcomed, but the best thing that Jeremy Hunt and his colleagues can do for the people of Yemen is to end the arms sales and the uncritical support they have offered the Saudi regime.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk orcall 020 7281 0297.
