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YEMEN

Stop Bombing Children

Unnamed child statue displayed outside Houses of Parliament in London

London, March 7, 2018 – As the UK Government welcomes the Saudi Crown Prince’s first official visit to London, Save the Children has unveiled a memorial-style life-size statue of a child outside Parliament. The bronze-like statue is a reminder of the dangers that Yemeni children face every day and the risks of British-made bombs fuelling the violence.

The charity also took the statue to iconic locations in London including Tower Bridge, Camden Market and Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital – to reflect the types of places where children are regularly bombed in Yemen such as playgrounds, hospitals, schools and markets.

Save the Children is calling on the UK Government to use its influence and help bring about a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. War is not the answer.

Since the bombing began three years ago the UK has approved £6 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia. British-made weapons could be killing Yemeni children. Millions of them are trapped in a brutal cycle of starvation, disease and violence.

Hospitals have been bombed so the sick can’t be treated. Shipments of food have been blocked or delayed so millions go hungry.

The country has been torn apart; its health services are on the point of collapse. Families have been denied the chance to make a living and feed their children.

Yemen has become the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis and it’s entirely man-made.

James Denselow, Head of Conflict & Humanitarian Policy, Save the Children, says:

“We are extremely clear what we're asking for. We want Saudi Arabia to obey the rules of war, to stop killing civilians in Yemen, and to abandon a failed military strategy in favour of working towards a political solution.

“Britain is providing welcome and life-saving aid to Yemen – but it also provides diplomatic cover. It is time for the Government to use this diplomatic relationship to push for an end to the conflict - and to demand our allies stop bombing children”

 “All sides in this conflict - including the Saudi-led Coalition, the Houthis, the Yemen Government, and everyone involved in the fighting, must come to the table and start to work for a negotiated peace, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

ENDS

 

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Bhanu Bhatnagar

B.Bhatnagar@savethechildren.org.uk

+44 7467 096788

+44 7831 650409 (out of hours)

 

Multimedia content available here:

https://storycentral.savethechildren.org.uk/pages/search.php?search=%21collection54655&k=3332904f64# 

 

#DontBombChildren

 

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