The United Nations has suspended all humanitarian aid operations in a large Houthi-controlled region of northern Yemen, citing the continued detention of its staff and an increasingly hostile environment for aid workers.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres made the call after the Houthis arrested eight more U.N. employees in late January, bringing the total number of detained staff to 24 since 2021, according to U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Violation of a Recent Agreement
The decision comes just weeks after the Houthis broke a December agreement with the U.N., in which they had pledged to stop detaining its staff and work towards releasing those in custody. Instead, they arrested more personnel under vague accusations of espionage and foreign interference.
“This extraordinary and temporary measure seeks to balance the imperative to stay and deliver with the need to have the safety and security of the U.N. personnel and its partners guaranteed,” the U.N. said in a statement.
Alongside the suspension, the U.N. has also halted all staff travel to Houthi-controlled areas until further notice.
Rising Concerns Over Houthi Crackdowns
The Iran-backed Houthis, who control significant parts of Yemen, including the capital Sana’a, have ramped up a wave of detentions targeting U.N. workers and foreign NGO staff. Reports indicate that hundreds of humanitarian workers have been arbitrarily detained as tensions in the region escalate.
With aid operations now on hold, millions of vulnerable Yemenis may face an even deeper crisis, as the country continues to grapple with the devastating effects of war and famine.
