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<p>The UK has played a leading role in helping secure vital access for food, fuel,
and medicine into and throughout Yemen. Last year when Red Sea port access was restricted
after a Houthi ballistic missile attack on Riyadh’s civilian airport, UK diplomacy
including a visit from the Secretary of State for Development to Riyadh led to the
ports being fully reopened. As a part of this effort, the UK provides £1.3 million
to the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism to give the Coalition confidence that
weapons are not coming in to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on commercial ships.
Red Sea ports remain fully operational and continue to import most of the food and
fuel on which Yemenis rely.</p><p> </p><p>As we have consistently made clear, the
Houthis must facilitate access throughout areas they control which is where most of
the population live. As penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council, the UK continues
to call on all parties to comply with the UNSC Presidential Statements of June 2017
and March 2018, which insist that all parties facilitate safe, rapid, and unhindered
access for both the humanitarian response and commercial supplies.</p><p> </p><p>On
3 April, the UK announced an additional £170 million in response to the humanitarian
crisis in Yemen for this financial year (2018/2019). This funding will meet immediate
food needs for 2.5 million Yemenis - as well as providing fuel and medical supplies
across the country - and brings the total UK bilateral support to Yemen to over £570
million since 2015.</p>
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