Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The conflict in Yemen has taken a disproportionate toll on the civilian population. As the Tánaiste is aware, almost four years of war has resulted in the world's greatest humanitarian crisis. The UN reports that 17.8 million people are currently categorised as food insecure, including 8.4 million who are categorised as severely food insecure. At the same time the country is suffering the worst cholera crisis in modern history. The unrelenting violence in the city port of Hodeida has impacted on the availability of food and essential supplies. Government regulations have hampered all port commercial activities relating to imports.

We welcome and acknowledge the fact that Ireland is doing what it can to try to help alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people. I note that since 2015 Ireland has provided almost €16.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen. This includes a contribution of €4 million made to the UN Yemen humanitarian fund this year. We note that since the beginning of the conflict in 2015 the EU has contributed a total of €438.2 million to Yemen. This includes humanitarian development as well as stabilisation and resilience support.

There are multiple actors involved in the war, as the Tánaiste said, each with their agenda. We acknowledge that efforts are being made to broker a ceasefire. Fianna Fáil fully supports the UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, in his efforts to bring all sides of the conflict to the negotiating table to work on a political solution. Let us be clear: the impending famine and the starvation being experienced by millions are man-made. In addition, the Yemeni Government is withholding salaries from civil servants, including teachers and health workers, in the Houthi-controlled northern part for two years. Most of the Yemeni population live in the north. State employees are a large proportion of the workforce.

Starvation is being used as a weapon of war. The international community must act urgently to unblock imports and ensure distribution of aid. We must remember that the delivery of humanitarian assistance is a requirement under international law.

Will the Tánaiste update us on efforts to broker a ceasefire in Yemen? We read that Yemen's Houthi militia announced that it was halting drone and missile attacks against the country's Saudi-led military coalition and would consider a broader ceasefire. This is of course welcome and I would like the Tánaiste to expand on the detail. Given the high risk of famine, is the Tánaiste aware of any new plans, financial or otherwise, being considered at EU level to protect the people of Yemen from starvation?

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