Today our aim is not only to prevent an acute famine in Yemen. New brutal battles for Marib, cholera and polio outbreaks, plagues of locusts – the people’s suffering is beyond our imagination. That’s why we are determined to help. Germany is already one of the most important humanitarian donors. Today, we will once again lead the way with a substantial new pledge of assistance and urgently appeal to others to do the same.

We are all aware that however much we give, it will not be enough. Not only because certain states are evading their responsibility and parties to the civil war are blocking humanitarian assistance. The suffering of the people in Yemen is man-made. There can only be a hope of real improvement if we finally succeed in putting a stop to the fighting.

The fact that the new US Administration has made this conflict a priority and is wholeheartedly backing the mediation efforts of UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, with whom we are cooperating as closely as possible, is an important signal. Everyone now needs to do what they can to help diplomacy in Yemen find its footing on the ground. To this end we will urge all international players to embrace their responsibility.