← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Yemen: Humanitarian Situation
20 October 2021
Lead MP
Gill Furniss
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Lab
Responding Minister
James Cleverly
Tags
Foreign Affairs
Word Count: 4139
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
Gill Furniss raised concerns about yemen: humanitarian situation in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government must reassess the impact of aid cuts on Yemen and commit to providing more funding than the announced amount to address the humanitarian crisis. They should also push for a lasting peace and protect schools from attacks, ensuring teacher salaries and supporting long-term education programmes.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is severe, with over 20.7 million people needing aid and 12 million in acute need. The conflict has caused an estimated 233,000 deaths due to indirect causes such as lack of food and healthcare infrastructure damage. Half of the health facilities are non-functional, leading to widespread diseases like cholera with over 2.5 million cases and 4,000 deaths. Additionally, 170,000 teachers have not received regular salaries, affecting children's education and future prospects.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
An environmental and humanitarian disaster may be imminent due to an abandoned oil tanker under Houthi control. It could cause devastation across the region, plunging more people into starvation and famine if not addressed by the UN Security Council. She questioned when the 50% cut in aid would be reversed, seeking more information from the Minister. She followed up on a previous question by asking for details about the access the UN will have to the ship carrying large quantities of oil, which poses a risk of environmental disaster if it leaks.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The war in Yemen has been ongoing for seven years and is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Recent news about UN Human Rights Council voting against renewing the body's mandate for investigating war crimes in Yemen is outrageous, suggesting that Saudi Arabia can do whatever it likes in Yemen.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
She thanked her hon. Friend for securing the debate and expressed concern that without a political solution, the situation in Yemen will continue for another seven years. She asked if there is any hope of UK and UN interventions leading to peace negotiations. She noted that Martin Griffiths is no longer the UN penholder but is still involved in humanitarian relief coordination and asked if there have been any conversations with Hans Grundberg, the new UN penholder.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Since the bombing of Yemen began, UK-Saudi arms contracts have totalled £6.5 billion, while aid to those in need has been cut. This situation is intolerable and demands an immediate increase in aid, stopping arms trade with Saudi Arabia, and finding a peaceful resolution through international intervention.
Valerie Vaz
Lab
Walsall and Bloxwich
I am extremely concerned about the war-torn situation in Yemen, especially as it is important to me due to my birthplace being Aden. I would like to find a road to peace with Martin Griffiths' help. She thanked the Minister for his attention to the subject and asked about accountability measures to ensure that aid money reaches its intended recipients. She also inquired when was the last time the Minister spoke with Martin Griffiths.
Government Response
James Cleverly
Government Response
The Minister outlined extensive UK contributions to Yemen's humanitarian situation, including over £1 billion in aid since the crisis began and a pledge of £87 million for this year. He detailed efforts to combat gender-based violence and improve healthcare services, especially for women and children. Despite economic pressures reducing aid spending temporarily, he reiterated the Government's commitment to return to 0.7% GNI in official development assistance as soon as possible. The Minister emphasised ongoing diplomatic work to secure a political settlement ending the conflict and highlighted support for the UN's special envoy Hans Grundberg.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.