British international development secretary Justine Greening has warned that Yemen is on the brink of famine calling on other countries to also step up after the UK committed £20m in emergency support.
Greening called on the international community not to close its eyes to the threat of famine in Yemen, “we need urgent action now to prevent thousands of needless deaths. Ultimately, only a ceasefire and a durable political process can resolve this crisis. But in the short term there are practical steps that can and will save lives,” she said.
Around six million people face critical food shortages across the country, according to the UN. Some 80% of Yemen’s population require humanitarian assistance and nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by fighting.
“It is not too late to prevent a worsening disaster, but time is rapidly running out,” she added.
