Aid organisations have implored Britain's foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt to use the influence of the UK government to bring to an end the long-running conflict in Yemen.

Christian Aid and CAFOD are among nine agencies to have written an open letter highlighting the desperate condition of the country's civilian population. An estimated 14 million people – half the country's population – are on the brink of famine and civilian deaths have increased dramatically in recent months, with 450 civilians killed during nine days in August.

The agencies say violence against women and girls has also risen significantly.

They say: 'The catastrophic food shortages in Yemen are entirely human made and a direct consequence of the warring parties' severe restriction on access to food, fuel, medical imports and humanitarian aid.'

They describe the situation as 'the most severe humanitarian disaster on the planet right now' and say: 'Given the UK's power and influence, and your commitments to upholding our country's values, you have a unique opportunity to show leadership and deliver a lasting peace for Yemen's beleagured civilian population.'

Hunt has raised the Yemen issue at meetings in Saudi Arabia, which is providing military support and conducting airstrikes in support of the government ousted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

He told Reuters today that prospects for talks to end the war were 'more real' after Saudi Arabia confirmed to him its willingness to evacuate 50 wounded Houthi fighters as a confidence-building measure.

The Western-backed Saudi-led coalition in Yemen resumed air strikes on the main port city of Hodeidah after a lull on Monday.

Hunt said: 'Even though there's been a temporary lull in the fighting, ... it is a desperate humanitarian situation and so I impressed on everyone the urgency of the situation we're facing.'

Britain is s major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia. Opposition politicians and human rights groups have called on the government to cease such sales due to the high civilian death toll in air raids by the coalition in Yemen.