STATEMENT: UK ARMS SALES TO SAUDI ARABIA

Monday, 10 July 2017 - 11:00am

Save the Children deeply disappointed by High Court decision that finds UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia are lawful.

George Graham, Director of Conflict and Humanitarian Policy at Save the Children, said: 

“We are deeply disappointed by this decision. Britain is selling bombs to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen. And the Saudi-led coalition is killing children in repeated violations of international humanitarian law. This is not a point of contention – the evidence is overwhelming. It has been documented by UN reports, by aid groups on the ground and by credible human rights organisations. 

“Our teams on the ground have seen first-hand what attacks by the Saudi-led coalition mean for children. Like the two little girls we’re helping who were bombed at a funeral in February. One lost every finger on her right hand, the other girl lost her mother. But they were lucky – another child was killed.

“We can be proud of the difference the UK is making in Yemen – British aid is keeping children alive. But at the same time, our weapons are helping to fuel a war that is killing children and destroying their schools and hospitals. As a nation, our greatest export should be hope, not fear. 

“We continue to believe that the UK will stand taller in the world if we make the right decision and immediately suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia.”