Yemen conflict: UK defends Yemeni aid cuts amid criticism from MPs

The UK government has defended its decision to slash humanitarian aid to Yemen, saying it would continue to “do its bit” to support the most vulnerable in the war-torn country.

The UK will give “at least” £87m this year, down from £164m in 2019-2020.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said UK support would feed 240,000 children and supply clean water for millions.

But one ex-minister said the move was “unconscionable” given Yemen’s plight and “not who we are” as a country.

The decade-long conflict in Yemen has left an estimated 20 million people - two-thirds of the population - dependent on humanitarian assistance while two million children are acutely malnourished.

The situation has been called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The UK gave £214m in humanitarian aid to Yemen in total in 2020-2021.

This included £164m pledged at a UN-backed international conference last year, as well as £50m of additional spending.

It is now proposing a total reduction after announcing a sharp fall in pledged funding for 2021-2022 at the same UN donors’ event on Monday.

The decision follows the UK’s decision to reduce its overall international aid budget by about £4bn in 2021-2022, which in the process will see it miss the UN target of spending 0.7% of national income on foreign aid.

The government has said pressure on the public finances from the means tough choices are required.