The Guardian-The worlds worst humanitarian crisis is deteriorating as a Saudi blockade prevents desperately needed food, fuel and medicine from entering the country. Londons unstinting support for Riyadh makes the UK complicit
Twenty years ago, Tony Blair acknowledged the British governments responsibility for the Irish famine that killed one million people: a healing gesture needed because, even after a century and a half, pain and anger endured and the responsibility ofthose who governed in Londonremained glaring. Now we are on the brink ofanother famine perhaps the worst for decades,says a UN aid chief and Britain must again bear blame.
The UN called Yemen the worlds worst humanitarian crisis even before Saudi Arabia decided to blockade the country a week and a half ago, shutting out food and medicine. Now the heads of three key agencies have warned thatmillions are on the brink of starvation. Unicef fears that 150,000 children could die by the end of the year. Acholera outbreak that has already affected 900,000 is expected to flare up again, as the lack of fuelshuts off water and sewage systems. Twenty million people, more than two-thirds of the population, are in urgent need of humanitarian supplies.