This month is two years since the conflict began. The war has destroyed health facilities, damaged schools and homes, and left thousands without jobs or livelihood. It is difficult to fathom, let alone comprehend, how life-changing this situation is for Yemeni families living through it every day. I have witnessed the devastation and suffering; while working in Al-Hudaydah port as an evacuee registration officer, where many of those fleeing the frontlines of battle arrive, I've seen mothers carrying their children who are suffering from malnutrition. Seeing this sort of suffering and knowing that I must help these people is heart-wrenching. It also pains me to think of all the families suffering right now, without clean water or access to health care and their lives hanging in the balance.
The UN has called Yemen the world's worst humanitarian crisis. However, despite this, there is still not enough to address the needs of millions of Yemeni men, women and children affected by conflict. The UK Government has pledged an additional £130 million for 2018, so it must do more to support our work on the ground in Yemen with all parties to bring an end to the conflict, which has caused so much suffering to millions of people. The Prime Minister's recent visit to Saudi Arabia was a clear opportunity for him to raise this issue and use his influence to urge all sides of the conflict to reach a lasting political solution, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and facilitate access to humanitarian aid.
There is no doubt that there are no easy answers or overnight solutions to this conflict; however, if we want peace, we need sustainable long-term development supported by all parties. This means addressing underlying causes of war, including poverty, food insecurity and unemployment, which are at the heart of the crisis. We must also ensure all parties facilitate safe, sustained and unconditional access to the UN and its partners so that they can deliver aid safely and effectively.
This is why Oxfam has launched a new campaign - A War on Want – calling for a resolution to this conflict at the source. It highlights how UK taxpayers' money is being used in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia to support their governments' military actions, with billions of pounds worth of arms sales and training and support provided by the UK Ministry of Defence. When people back our campaign, they are sending the message loud and clear:
UK Government- stop fuelling war in Yemen now!
We have worked in Yemen for years, and we have spent the last few months conducting an in-depth investigation into the UK's role in fuelling the conflict. Our aid and taxpayers' money are being used to support all sides of the war, including through arms sales, with over £4bn worth of weapons being sold to Saudi Arabia since the bombing began in 2015. The UK Government has also trained Saudi pilots and military personnel on how to use these weapons effectively. We must end this complicity; it is time for the government to stop arming both sides of this horrific war.
This summer has seen some positive signs of progress, like the UN, with strong support from the UK Government, successfully brokered a deal between the Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government in Stockholm. The value created an opportunity to deliver aid into some of the country's hardest-to-reach areas; however, it has stalled since then, and access continues to be denied.
As part of any lasting peace deal, there must be a strong commitment by all parties to end this conflict as soon as possible, which should include holding accountable those who have carried out war crimes such as unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure; especially airstrikes on markets, hospitals and dams which have been caused massive loss of life and inflicted enormous suffering on millions of people.
This is why, as part of the A War on Want campaign, we're calling on the government to stop fuelling war in Yemen now by suspending all arms sales and military support to all parties. Instead, we need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to ensure aid can reach civilians and a peace deal that can end the violence once and for all. Let's donate to Yemen where families do not need to worry about how they will survive today, let alone how they will afford your tomorrow.
