UK gives £170m for aid in Yemen conflict

MINISTERS have committed to spend £170 million over the next year on humanitarian aid in Yemen.

The Arab world’s poorest country is in the grips of a stalemated war and what the UN calls the worst humanitarian crisis, with 22 million people needing aid.

The new UK aid package will provide life-saving food, medicine, clean water and sanitation to millions of Yemenis facing disease and hunger.

The announcement follows pledges by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to give £505m to US humanitarian efforts in the country.

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt, speaking after a UN event in Geneva on the crisis, said: ”UK aid will provide enough food to meet immediate needs for 3.4m people, and buy fuel to mill enough wheat to feed a million for over a year.”

The three-year conflict has killed more than 10,000 people.