The German government supports the United Nations and its call for guaranteed access for humanitarian aid in Yemen, announced government spokesperson Steffen Seibert at the government press conference in Berlin. And this aid must be financed, he continued. This year the German government has already provided almost 120 million euros for humanitarian assistance. It is currently considering further increasing these funds.

The humanitarian situation in Yemen is dramatic, with more than 20 million people dependent on relief supplies according to organisations involved in delivering humanitarian aid.

Reopening of Port of Aden is first step

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel has spoken by telephone with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Adel al-Jubeir, announced deputy Federal Foreign Office spokesperson, Maria Adebahr. Sigmar Gabriel raised the issue of the suffering of the people of Yemen, and called for access routes in Yemen and supplies of essential goods to the population to be ensured. Against the backdrop of the dramatic situation in the country, this must have priority, he said. The reopening of the Port of Aden does not provide enough capacity to handle imports of the urgently needed relief supplies.