Theresa May unveils 'desperately needed' £200m aid boost for victims of Yemeni war
2 min read
Theresa May has unveiled a £200m support package for victims of the bloody Yemeni civil war.
Arriving for the EU-Arab League summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Prime Minister said she would be pressing the region's leaders to help end the "crisis and suffering" of the long-running conflict.
"The situation in Yemen cannot go on," she warned.
The United Nations estimates that the war in Yemen - which pits a Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels who ousted a Riyadh-backed government in 2015 - has left at least 10,000 people dead and millions more facing famine in one of the Arab world's most impoverished countries.
Announcing the fresh aid package, Mrs May said: "We are playing our part and will continue to do so but there is still more that we as an international community can do.
"At the summit in Egypt, I will call on our partners in Europe and the region to continue to provide the aid that is so desperately needed."
The Prime Minister was also due to meet a delegation from Saudi Arabia on Sunday, with the UK clashing with some EU nations over its decision to continue allowing arms sales to the regime in Riyadh, which is heavily involved in the Yemeni conflict.
An excoriating House of Lords report published earlier this month said Britain was on "the wrong side of the law" by continuing to green-light arms exports for Saudi Arabia to use in the war.
Mrs May said: "There must be a political settlement.
"That is the only way to end this crisis and the suffering it has caused.
"Real progress has been made to reach a political solution, but the window of opportunity is closing.
"We must use the momentum of the landmark Stockholm talks to turn the current agreements into a lasting peace."
She added: "My message in Sharm El Sheikh is clear.
"Let us now redouble our efforts to build on the progress made and get the Stockholm agreements implemented in full.
"Pressure must be brought to bear on all those involved in the conflict."
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