Dominic Raab and Anne-Marie Trevelyan urge all parties to engage with the UN-led peace process on the fifth anniversary of the Saudi-led Coalition’s military intervention in the conflict in Yemen.

The intervention came at the request of the internationally recognised Government of Yemen.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

Yemen is now at a crossroads between a path to peace or yet more violence. The risk of further conflict as well as the threat of an outbreak of coronavirus could deepen what is already the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Now, more than ever, all parties must engage with the peace process led by the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths. The UK stands by the people of Yemen and is saving lives every day with vital UK aid support but a political solution is the only lasting way to alleviate suffering. We urge the parties to respond to the call by the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, yesterday to work towards a political solution to end this appalling conflict.

Background:

• The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, issued a statement on 25 March, which urged the parties in Yemen to immediately cease hostilities, focus on reaching a negotiated settlement and do everything possible to counter a potential outbreak of COVID-19. This followed Guterres’ call on 24 March for an end to conflicts around the world amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• The year began with some political progress, including agreement on prisoner exchanges and the first of a series of mercy flights of Yemenis to receive medical treatment abroad. However, recent clashes in Marib Governorate and the prospect of a Houthi offensive in that governorate threaten to undermine progress. The Foreign Secretary visited the region in March and met Yemeni President Hadi to reiterate the UK’s support for the UN-led process. The UK continues to lead on Yemen in the UN Security Council and funds efforts by the UN Special Envoy to ensure the peace process involves marginalised groups, including women and young people.
• Restrictions on humanitarian access, particularly in Houthi-controlled areas, as well as the beginning of the cholera season and the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak would further worsen the humanitarian situation. The UK is clear that humanitarian aid must not be used as a political tool and calls on all parties to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2451 by facilitating safe, rapid, and unhindered access for the humanitarian response. The UK has committed £770 million to support Yemen since the conflict began in 2015 and provided over £200 million in funding this financial year (2019/20).
• The SAFER oil tanker anchored off the coast of Yemen poses a major environmental threat. In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2511, the Houthis must immediately facilitate access for the UN to conduct an assessment and essential maintenance.

Further information

IMPORTANT: COVID-19 IMPACT Due to the international effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Accra will be closed to the public effective immediately. Any new applications will not be accepted until further notice. We are currently contacting any affected customers to cancel scheduled appointments and arrange the return or collection of passports. We continue to monitor the situation and updates on when the service will re-open will be available on this page. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation. For further updates to our visas service, please use the following link: ACCRA https://pos.tlscontact.com/acc_en/ Visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents GOV.UK page for more information

The Regulator of Social Housing has written to all registered providers of social housing setting out the changes it is making to its regulatory approach in response to Coronavirus. It also sets out expectations about providers contacting the regulator about significant compliance challenges. This is intended both to support providers in focussing on front-line operations and to identify where there may be challenges that the sector or individual providers need regulatory support to meet.

Across the sector, the shared priority is to maintain tenant safety, including addressing emergency [and urgent] repairs and statutory compliance with health and safety requirements. The impact of the outbreak, and the measures to contain it, will mean that there will be some incidence of statutory non-compliance and repairs backlogs. RSH assures providers that it will apply a proportionate regulatory approach and take full account of the current circumstances but that it expects providers to inform it in a timely manner about material non-compliance with regulatory standards, focussing on the safety of tenants and financial viability.

RSH previously announced that it would pause In-Depth Assessments. It now extends that pause until further notice. In addition, it postpones the submission deadline for the Statistical Data Return and the Local Authority Data Return until 31 October 2020. The submission date for the Financial Forecast Return is deferred and updates will be provided in due course.

To address the risks arising to tenant safety and from the economic impact of Coronavirus, RSH will survey providers to collect information about how they are delivering emergency and urgent repairs, care and support services and compliance with health and safety requirements. It will also ask some providers who face higher financial risks to share more of their own financial information.

RSH will continue to keep its regulatory approach under review over the coming weeks and months.

Fiona MacGregor, RSH Chief Executive said:

Coronavirus leaves us all facing unprecedented challenges in our daily lives and an uncertain future economic climate. Amid very significant operational pressures housing providers are rightly prioritising their work and services to protect their tenants and communities whilst keeping their staff safe.

We are supporting this by pausing some of our usual regulation and focusing our oversight on the things that matter most: that providers keep tenants safe and that the social housing sector remains financially viable.

The letter to registered providers is also published on the website.

Notes to editors

1. The original submission deadline for the Statistical Data Return was 31 May 2020. This has now been extended until 31 October 2020. The Local Authority Data Return deadline has also been extended to 31 October 2020.

2. The original submission deadline for the Financial Forecast Return was 30 June 2020.This deadline has been deferred.

3. Providers will still need to submit Q4 returns between 1 April 2020 and 23 April 2020 for the Quarterly Survey, but no longer need to provide the same level of year end information.

4. The Regulator of Social Housing promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver homes that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants. For more information about RSH, visit: https://gov.uk/rsh.

5. For press office contact details, see the Media enquiries page. For general queries, please email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5225.

Working with our partners, we are warning our customers and members of the public to be vigilant in the face of scams connected to the coronavirus (Covid-19).

These scams could take many forms and might take the form of pensions transfers, high-return investment opportunities or health insurance supplements.

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There is further advice on the FCA’s ScamSmart website about how to protect yourself and if you suspect you may have been contacted in what could be a scam, you can make a complaint to the Insolvency Service or call Action Fraud straight away on 0300 123 2040.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the UK government has advised against non-essential travel overseas.

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Flights

What is the UK doing to set up evacuation flights?

We are urgently working with the Government of India and airlines to enable returns to take place on commercial flights, and we will update our guidance for British nationals as soon as more information is available.

What is the likely timescale for evacuation flights to commence?

Currently there is a restriction on commercial international passenger flights until 14th April 2020, and on commercial domestic flights until the end of the government lockdown on 15th April 2020. If anything becomes available before then, we will let British nationals know by updating our travel advice and social media channels.

Will international flights resume on 14th April 2020 as previously stated?

The situation is highly fluid and British nationals should be prepared for the possibility that this could be extended. We are in close contact with the Government of India and will update our guidance as soon as more information becomes available. Please also stay in contact with your airline.

Why has UK not acted whilst other foreign missions have already run evacuation flights?

We are collecting information on British nationals currently in India to help understand how best to support you and to advise you when commercial flights become available to the UK. If you are a British national who is visiting India and want to be kept informed of commercial flights that may be available from India to the UK please contact us using the email address Conqry.Newdelhi@fco.gov.uk. Please see “contacting the FCO” section below which sets out what details you will need to include.

How will I get to the airport when flights operate?

We are working with the Government of India and State governments to put plans in place to enable British nationals to reach airports once commercial flights resume.

Accommodation, Food, and Supplies

Our hotel is threatening to throw us out, what can we do?

We are working closely with the Government of India and State governments to provide necessary support to British nationals. If you require urgent consular assistance, please contact our consular helplines on:

• New Delhi: +91 (11) 2419 2100
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You should ask your hotel to provide alternative accommodation, or talk to the police who can assist with this.

We are unable to buy any food, water, medicines or other essentials because all the shops are shut – what can we do?

The Government of India has ordered that food, medicines and other supplies will continue to remain available during the lockdown period. We are aware that supplies are running low, and some shops are closed. State Governments are working to put systems in place, and we are in touch them.

If you need medicine, use Google to check on pharmacies closest to you and see if they will deliver. If not, you should walk (don’t drive) to the nearest pharmacy or ask for assistance from your accommodation provider. Carry any medical papers or prescriptions and be prepared to answer questions if stopped by the police – the majority of police will let you through if you have a legitimate reason for being out.

If the same medication you’re on is not available, consult a local doctor for an Indian alternative or go to the nearest hospital. In a genuine medical emergency, call an ambulance.

If you are in Goa

The State of Goa has implemented a lockdown and curfew, meaning if you are outdoors you may be stopped and detained by authorities. You should stay indoors as far as possible and only step out for legitimate reasons. Be prepared to explain why you are out if you are stopped. For food requests the Goa State Government has set up the helpline +91 9423890066, and for medicine requests the helpline +91 7823026971. If you require urgent consular assistance, please contact our consular helpline on +91 (22) 6650 2222.

Can you arrange safe passage for me from A to B during the lockdown?

There is currently a 21-day lockdown declared across India. You should only be moving out of your accommodation for legitimate reasons. If you need to travel for a genuine emergency, please contact the nearest police station and explain the situation to the police, who will be able to help you. If you cannot contact them yourself, seek assistance from your accommodation provider.

We are working closely with the Government of India and State governments to provide necessary support to British nationals. If you require urgent consular assistance, please contact our consular helplines on:

• New Delhi: +91 (11) 2419 2100
• Chennai: + 91 (44) 42192151
• Mumbai/Goa: +91 (22) 6650 2222

How can I extend my Visa?

The Indian Government has announced that visas will be extended for those who have been unable to leave the country because of the lockdown measures. You should apply to the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for an extension online here.

I didn’t get a response to my email I sent to the Conqry.Newdelhi@fco.gov.uk inbox?

The Conqry.Newdelhi@fco.gov.uk mailbox is set to automatically acknowledge an email you have sent to us. Please check your Junk email to see if an acknowledgement has gone there. If you have not received an automated response, please double check the email address and resend your information with no attachments. If this fails, then if possible please send from another email address.

Due to the volume of emails we are receiving, we will be unable to send an individual response to everyone. We will however send any updates on the availability of flights to everyone on the list. You should also register for alerts to our Travel Advice and follow us on social media for any updates.

Please ensure to include all of the following information, so that we do not have to contact you for further information, reducing our capacity to assist. Presenting the information clearly will help us work through the information quickly. Please include, in the following format:

• Your full name (and names of any family members with you)
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• Passport number
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• Contact details
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• If you have any special circumstances, such as a medical condition

What’s happening to my information now? I’ve not received any more emails from you?

We have received a very large number of emails and we are putting all resources in place to support you as needed – we ask that you do not email us again to follow up.. We will send any updates on the availability of flights to everyone on the list. You should also register for alerts to our Travel Advice and follow us on social media for any updates.

Can I send other important information to the Conqry.Newdelhi@fco.gov.uk inbox?

Please only send the requested information to the conqry inbox. If you need consular assistance or guidance, please call us instead on

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