Canada calls for an end to the conflict in Yemen

November 1, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement:

“Canada calls on all parties to bring a permanent end to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has had an unacceptable and devastating impact on children, women and men in the country.

“We deplore the ongoing violence, which has led to mass malnourishment, severe food insecurity, death and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2015, Canada has provided $130 million of life-saving humanitarian aid to affected communities.

“We remain deeply concerned by reports that all parties to the conflict have repeatedly contravened international law and have obstructed humanitarian assistance. Canada calls for rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance, and urges all parties to the conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law.

“We join the call from allies in urging the international community to stand united in demanding a swift end to the violence. Canada worked diligently with other countries during the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2018 to renew the mandate of the Group of Independent Eminent International and Regional Experts investigating the human rights situation in Yemen.

“Canada welcomes the important work of Martin Griffiths, the UN’s Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen, and fully supports efforts to resume talks toward a permanent and peaceful end to this conflict.”