SAUDI ARABIA’S pledge to end the Hodeidah offensive is welcome, but a national ceasefire and ending arms sales are needed for peace, say Britain's anti-arms campaigners.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen ordered the end of its bombardment of the country’s main port city yesterday evening, following intense attacks over 12 days.

It followed aid agencies warnings that damage to Hodeidah, through which an estimated 80 per cent of Yemen’s food and aid comes, will push 14 million starving people into famine.

Campaign Against Arms Trade spokesman Andrew Smith said the crisis “should never have been allowed” to reach this point.

He said: “The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is already the worst in the world. Thousands of people have been killed and infrastructure has been destroyed across the country.

“It is vital that this is followed by a national ceasefire, a massive aid effort and the full reopening of Yemen’s ports and air space. Otherwise thousands will continue to starve to death.

“After almost four years of war, the need for a political solution is greater than ever. Arms-dealing governments like the UK must work towards peace. That doesn’t just mean calling for a ceasefire, it also means ending the arms sales and political support that have fuelled this terrible war.”

Yemen could face the worst famine in the world for 100 years without action, the UN has warned.

Since the bombing of Yemen began in March 2015, Britain has licensed £4.6 billion worth of arms to the Saudi regime.