MEMBERS of Bradford on Avon Oxfam Group have written to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab saying they remain “very concerned” about the situation of the war in Yemen which is now in its sixth year.

Hazel Jones, of Regents Place, Bradford on Avon, who is coordinator of the 30-strong Bradford on Avon Oxfam Group, told Mr Raab in a letter: “We are writing on behalf of Bradford on Avon Oxfam Group. We all live in either the constituencies of Chippenham or South West Wiltshire.

“We are writing because of our extreme concern that the UK Government has decided to resume licensing arms sales to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen, and to ask you to urge the Government to stop licensing weapons for this war and press for a ceasefire.

“We have been writing to our MPs about this sad situation which has been going on for more than five years. Two of us met with some young Yemeni women who came to speak at a 'Day for Yemen' which was organised by NGOs including Oxfam. These young women described just what it is like to live in Yemen, the bombs, the lack of food and the cholera and now there is another crisis.

“The war in Yemen has led to the world's worst humanitarian crisis. More than 24 million people need urgent assistance. Now, the people of Yemen are facing the challenge of coronavirus, with one million cases predicted in a country where the health system is on the brink of collapse, making it extremely difficult for humanitarian workers and local communities to save lives.”

Mrs Jones wrote to Mr Raab about two weeks ago. She is still waiting for the Foreign Secretary to respond to her letter.

She told him: “Last year, the Court of Appeal judged that the UK Government had acted unlawfully by sending bombs, planes and other weapons for the war. The Court ordered the Government to stop issuing new arms exports licences.

“The UK Government has admitted that there have been hundreds of concerning incidents, including the bombing of homes, schools, hospitals and markets, killing thousands of civilians. Yet it has now decided that these are only "isolated incidents" and is licensing arms to Saudi Arabia for use in the war in Yemen again.

“In the weeks after the Government’s decision, civilians have been killed in repeated bombing raids, including on a house. Attacks on homes are increasing year on year and more and more civilians are dying.

“The UK Government has championed earlier peace talks and is sending generous amounts of aid to help people in need. However, continued arms sales are fuelling the war and destroying chances of peace.

“UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen weaken the international order, including the credibility of the Arms Trade Treaty, and Global Britain as a force for good that stands up for human rights.

“Please ask the Government to immediately stop the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen, and call for a nationwide ceasefire. Without this it will be impossible to achieve peace and bring an end to the world's largest humanitarian crisis.”