UK 'balancing books on backs of Yemen's starving people', says UN diplomat

Exclusive: former DfID secretary Mark Lowcock shocked by decision of Johnson's government to cut aid

Ministers have decided to balance the books on the backs of the starving people of Yemen" in an act that will see tens of thousands die and damage the UK's global influence, the head of the UN's Office for Humanitarian Affairs has said.

Speaking with rare bluntness after the UK more than halved its funds to help Yemen, the former permanent secretary at the Department for International Development Mark Lowcock said he was shocked by the decision. It is understood he was given no chance to appeal to the UK to rethink.