In response to the UK government's plan to cut Yemen aid, Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children UK, said:

“We are beyond dismayed by reports that the Government intends to cut aid to Yemen by a staggering 50 percent.

“The UN is already warning that 400,000 children under five might die if more is not done to help, and the UK has chosen this moment to cut its aid to Yemen by more than half. To slash food and medicine to these children as they stand on the brink of famine and a second COVID-19 wave risks many thousands of deaths and flies in the face of Britain’s proud tradition of coming to the aid of people in need. It doesn’t take an expert to imagine what happens when you remove food support to a quarter of a million vulnerable people with famine looming.

“This is one of the first illustrations of the devastating real-life consequences of the UK’s decision to abandon its commitment to spend 0.7 percent of GNI on aid, and we hope the Government will urgently rethink this move in time to avoid tragic consequences for the world’s most vulnerable children."

*The UK Government has stated, ‘our funding is providing support to at least 500,000 vulnerable people each month to help them buy food and household essentials’

Content of baby Haifa* available here:  At 2.7kg and at 3.5kg.

Spokespeople available in Yemen and London. For interviews contact:

• Bhanu Bhatnagar B.Bhatnagar@savethechildren.org.uk +44 7467 096788
• Out-of-hours Media@savethechildren.org.uk +44 7831 650409