UK funding to support UN peace process in Yemen

On January, 22 the UK Government has announced £2.5million in additional funding to the UN peace process in Yemen.

This uplift in spending, from the UK Government’s Conflict, Security and Stability Fund, will help establish the UN Civilian Coordinator’s Office, following the agreements made between parties at December’s UN peace talks in Stockholm. The UN Civilian Coordinator’s Office will play the leading role in coordinating support to the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Isa – Yemen’s lifeline. It will also focus on demining work and other civilian aspects of the Hodeidah Agreement. The Civilian Coordinator’s Office will be co-funded by Germany.

The announcement follows the UN Security Council’s unanimous adoption of UK-drafted resolution 2452 last week, which established a special political mission to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached in Stockholm.

The Stockholm Agreements, and the Hodeidah Agreement, in particular, are integral steps in the road to long-term peace and stability in Yemen. They will also be pivotal in addressing the acute humanitarian crisis in the country. The funding announced by the UK will help the UN to ensure the survival of the ceasefire in its crucial first months.

“Yemen is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Up to 20 million Yemenis lack reliable access to food and over 400,000 children under the age of 5 suffer severe acute malnutrition. This is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe and it will have man-made solutions. The Stockholm Agreements are our best chance of securing long term peace in Yemen. The UK is, therefore, determined to support the implementation of these agreements. Last week’s Security Council vote and today’s announcement of an additional £2.5 million UK funding are an instrumental part of that process, and we will continue to bolster the UN Special Envoy’s work where possible over the coming months,” said Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Original source: DFID
Published on 22 January 2019