The state news agency of Saudi Arabia reported on Wednesday that it would transfer the funds to Yemen’s central bank “with the aim of boosting Yemen’s financial and economic situation”.

State officials said the deposit takes the total amount given to the Central Bank of Yemen to $3bn.

Yemen is the poorest country is the Arab world and has been devastated by a three-year civil war and a Saudi-led bombing campaign against rebels have caused what has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, according to aid agencies.

The prime minister of the war-torn country asked for help earlier this week to save the population from “inevitable starvation”.

The Saudi funds come as the coalition was criticised for imposing a blockade on Yemen’s ports to stop the smuggling of weapons to Houthi rebel-controlled areas.

In December, the UK pledged to provide an extra £50m to help Yemen, bringing its aid to the country to a total of £205m for the 2017-18 year.