The UK is a critical friend of Saudi Arabia and our strong relationship means we are able to raise difficult issues more effectively. We have led the call for unhindered humanitarian and commercial access into Yemen, including through the UK-coordinated Security Council Statement of 15 March, the Secretary of State\u2019s visit to Riyadh in December and lobbying from the Prime Minister. Most recently, during the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman\u2019s visit to London in early March, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to work together with the UK to strengthen the UN\u2019s mechanism for inspecting ships so that all Yemeni ports can remain fully open to commercial and humanitarian supplies. During this visit, we also agreed with the Saudi Fund for Development that we would contribute £50 million each to support development in East Africa \u2013 the \u2018£100 million humanitarian aid deal\u2019 referred to in the question.<\/p>
The UK has been clear that there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen and we have continuously lobbied all sides to urgently de-escalate the fighting and find a comprehensive political solution. We also regularly press, including at senior levels, the need for the Saudi-led Coalition to conduct thorough and conclusive investigations into reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-02T16:56:55.44Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Yemen: Overseas Aid"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what guarantees her Department sought from the Saudi government on (a) humanitarian access to Yemen and (b) ending Saudi-led air strikes on Yemen, in advance of signing the £100 million humanitarian aid deal announced on 7 March 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4651", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Carden"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Liverpool, Walton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dan Carden"} ], "uin" : "138104"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/885310", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/885310/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
At the Yemen Pledging Event in Geneva on 3 April, I announced that the UK would be providing £170 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen for the financial year 2018/2019. This funding will meet immediate food needs for 2.5 million Yemenis, and comes on top of over £400 million in bilateral support since the conflict began in 2015.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-24T15:53:13.113Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Yemen: Overseas Aid"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the total amount of aid is that the UK plans to send to Yemen in 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/338", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Keith Vaz"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leicester East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Keith Vaz"} ], "uin" : "136174"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/852598", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/852598/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
DFID has rigorous systems in place to ensure that all our aid in Yemen meets its intended beneficiaries. DFID channels funds through UN agencies and NGOs who have been on the ground for many years in Yemen, have good access and a strong track record of delivering and monitoring assistance in difficult environments. Officials regularly monitor and review programmes to ensure they are delivering results and that no aid is diverted or misused.<\/p>
DFID applies a rigorous process of due diligence, under which partners must demonstrate accountable, transparent governance structures and sound financial procedures before funding is provided. DFID contracts independent monitoring experts to verify delivery at project sites including through photographs and interviews with direct beneficiaries.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-06T12:31:44.477Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Yemen: Overseas Aid"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the proportion of UK humanitarian aid to Yemen which has reached its intended beneficiaries in each of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4571", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gill Furniss"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Gill Furniss"} ], "uin" : "130594"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/850037", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/850037/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK is providing £205 million of aid support Yemen for the financial year 2017/8 that is focused on lifesaving humanitarian aid. Our partners use a variety of ports of entry into Yemen, depending on where need is greatest, the type of supply being imported, and the situation on the ground at the time.<\/p>
<\/p>
The northern ports of Hodeidah and Saleef play a critical role in importing 80% of Yemen\u2019s humanitarian and commercial supplies, including food, fuel and medicine. For example, the UK has provided the World Food Programme (WFP) with £30 million to provide over 60,000 metric tons of food and 6.5 million litres of fuel to Yemen: 79% of these supplies will enter Yemen through the port of Hodeidah.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Secretary of State for International Development has been clear that all parties must allow full and unhindered access throughout Yemen, including through Hodeidah and Saleef ports.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-05T17:30:46.353Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Yemen: Overseas Aid"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of UK aid to Yemen passes through the port of Hodeidah.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/338", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Keith Vaz"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leicester East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Keith Vaz"} ], "uin" : "129605"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 4, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }