A report published yesterday by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimated that 377,000 people will have died in the war in Yemen by the end of 2021, from both direct and indirect causes. Sixty percent of these would be from hunger, preventable disease, and other indirect causes, while 70% of the deaths are of children under five.

Katie Fallon of Campaign Against Arms Trade said: "This horrifying report is a reminder that while the war in Yemen may have fallen off the news agenda, its devastating impact on the people of Yemen is as bad as ever. Promises by President Biden to end support for the Saudi coalition's role in the war have not been fulfilled, despite a welcome halt to a few arms sales. Meanwhile, the UK government continues to supply arms to Saudi Arabia without restraint.

The UK, the US and other leading powers must immediately halt the arms sales that are prolonging and exacerbating the war, press hard for an end to the Saudi blockade that is one of the main contributors to the humanitarian catastrophe, and engage in sustained and meaningful diplomatic efforts to bring the war to an end. The UK must also reverse its cruel cuts to humanitarian aid to Yemen, which have only increased the war's appalling toll."

CAAT has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize alongside Mwatana for Human Rights, a grassroots organisation working in Yemen. CAAT's nomination aims to draw attention to work to stop the UK government's sales of arms to Saudi Arabia, particularly our ongoing court case to challenge the UK government's decision to resume arms sales to the Saudi regime for use in the war in Yemen.

On several occasions Pope Francis has condemned the arms trade. In his discourse to the US Congress in September 2015, he said: "Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade."