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<p>The Department for International Development does not have insight into how Houthi
revenue flows have changed over time. The UK condemns Houthi interference in the operations
of local banks in north Yemen, including the arrest of banking staff in February 2019.</p><p>
</p><p>Effective economic regulations, alongside appropriate economic policies, will
have critical humanitarian benefits in Yemen. Whilst the latest total food import
levels into Yemen have exceeded pre-conflict requirements, high prices continue to
drive the risk of famine.</p><p> </p><p>The need for effective economic regulation
was demonstrated last year, when the Yemeni Riyal lost more than half of its value
between January and October 2018. This caused prices to rise steeply and risked making
food unaffordable for millions of vulnerable Yemenis. This depreciation was reversed
after UK-led efforts released over $400 million of hard currency (provided by Saudi
Arabia), to importers bringing food into the country.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue
to constructively engage with the Government of Yemen to prevent any repeated depreciation,
and to stabilise Yemen’s economy through more effective and transparent management
of its public finance.</p>
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