Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 81, 91, 92, and 109 together.

I have already set out in general terms my views on the situation in Yemen, which is shocking. I share the Deputies' concerns about the dire security and humanitarian situation in Yemen and the urgent need to bring about a political solution for the country. There are direct threats to civilians from the ongoing fighting and credible reports of violations of basic human rights in the course of the conflict. The United Nations has warned of an imminent threat of famine on an appalling scale, with millions of people potentially at risk of starvation, as well as significant public health risks due to the almost complete collapse of the healthcare system.

The challenge of resolving this complex conflict should not be underestimated. The civil war which has been ongoing for almost four years has opened fault lines in Yemen which will be difficult to heal. Historically, the country was divided between north and south, with a larger proportion of the population in the north being Shia and the south being largely Sunni. The two parts of Yemen were united in one state in 1990. The internationally recognised Government of Yemen now controls less than half of the country, while the de factoauthorities, usually referred to as the Houthis, control much of the north and west, where the largest concentrations of people are located, including the capital.

Both parties to the conflict have the support of outside actors, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates among those supporting the internationally recognised government, while Iran is closely connected with the Houthis. Rockets have been fired from Houthi controlled areas into Saudi Arabia, including towards Saudi cities. This has put civilians at risk and I firmly condemn the attacks. There are serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law on all sides, with indiscriminate attacks endangering civilians, unfortunately, being very common. There are reports of serious human rights abuses on both sides, as well as of obstacles being placed in the way of the effective delivery of humanitarian aid, a matter about which we spoke earlier.

Both at UN level and in EU discussions on the issue, Ireland has sought at all times to stress that military action cannot be a solution. Rebuilding stable and inclusive government and rebuilding links between communities across Yemen will require a painstaking and long process. There are already clear challenges in restoring effective governance in these areas where the government has resumed control. This is particularly worrying in a country where al-Qaeda has had a significant presence for over a decade. A ceasefire will be only the first step, but it is essential.

Even prior to the conflict, Yemen suffered from serious underdevelopment, corruption and drought. This has exacerbated the impact of three years of fighting on the Yemeni people. The war has had a severe impact on the economy and public services. Access for humanitarian aid is a key issue, as is access for commercial goods. However, there are reports that even when food and medicines are available for purchase, the devaluation of the currency and the cessation of much normal economic activity owing to the conflict mean that many families have no resources or income left to buy what they need. As the United Nations and humanitarian agencies report, we now have an acute humanitarian situation, with a cholera outbreak and the real risk of starvation for millions of Yemeni civilians. The United Nations' humanitarian co-ordinator in Yemen, Lise Grande, has warned that as many as 13 million civilians are at risk of famine if the fighting continues.

At the Foreign Affairs Council in which I participated in Brussels yesterday EU Ministers discussed the humanitarian situation in Yemen, the difficulties aid agencies faced in attempting to reach those in need and what the European Union could do to help to alleviate the crisis. We are particularly concerned about the recent violence in Hodeidah which is the entry point for an estimated 70% of goods imported into Yemen. Ireland and the European Union strongly support the efforts of the UN envoy Martin Griffiths who is working to bring the parties together for a new round of peace talks which may take place before the end of this month. At the request of the United Nations, Sweden stands ready to host such talks. The United Kingdom which currently leads on the Yemen file at the UN Security Council is also making efforts to bring this about, for which I thank it.

Ireland is doing what it can to address the devastating humanitarian situation and try to help to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people. Since 2015, it has provided almost €16.5 million in humanitarian assistance for Yemen. This includes a contribution of €4 million made this year to the UN Yemen Humanitarian Fund which provides assistance in the areas of education, logistics, food security, nutrition and health. Ireland also provides humanitarian support for Yemen through its contributions to EU funds. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2015, the European Union has contributed a total of €438 million to Yemen which includes humanitarian, development, stabilisation and resilience support. On 6 November Commissioner Stylianides announced an additional provision of €90 million in assistance for Yemen, bringing the total this year to €118 million.

5 o’clock

On 6 November, Commissioner Stylianides announced an additional provision of €90 million in assistance to Yemen, bringing the total this year to approximately €118 million.

Ireland is using its leverage in other multilateral fora to focus on the situation in Yemen. At the Human Rights Council in September 2017 Ireland was part of a core group of countries which ensured the establishment of a group of eminent experts on Yemen to investigate alleged violations of human rights and contraventions of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict. In September of this year Ireland worked to ensure the extension of the mandate of the group for another year to allow the group more time to complete their valuable work. I assure the House that we will continue to support all efforts to bring an end to the violence and to alleviate the humanitarian situation.

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