December 15, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement:

"Canada strongly supports the UN-sponsored peace consultations on Yemen and thanks the Government of Sweden for facilitating these talks. We also commend the work of Martin Griffiths, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Yemen, as he works to bring relief and, ultimately, peace to the people of Yemen.

"We are encouraged by the progress announced by the parties, and encourage the full implementation of their commitments. We stand ready to support and assist in the peace process.

"The humanitarian situation in Yemen remains dire. Since the start of the conflict in 2015, Canada has provided $130 million in humanitarian funding, but we remain deeply concerned about continued obstruction of humanitarian assistance to affected communities. Canada will also continue to support gender-responsive humanitarian action in Yemen, including helping to address the specific humanitarian needs of women and girls.

"Canada calls for an end to hostilities. We urge all parties to work together on the implementation of confidence-building measures, including the de-escalation measures in both Tae'z and Hodeidah, and the implementation of the exchange of prisoners' agreement, as well as measures to stabilize the economy."