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The United Nations has announced it will suspend operations in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled areas following the detention of additional UN personnel.
Some shit you should know before you read: Over the last year, United Nations employees in Yemen have faced a series of detentions by the Houthis, an Iran-backed terrorist organization that has controlled large parts of the country since 2014. In June, the UN confirmed that 11 Yemeni UN staff members were arbitrarily detained by the Houthis under unclear circumstances, adding to a growing number of aid workers and international organization personnel who had been taken into custody. These arrests were part of a broader crackdown by the Houthis, who have also detained individuals associated with humanitarian groups, civil society organizations, and even the now-closed US Embassy in Sanaa. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts to secure their release, many remain imprisoned, with reports of mistreatment and harsh interrogation tactics. By late 2024, the escalating pattern of detentions led the UN to suspend all travel into Houthi-controlled areas, citing security risks for its personnel.
What’s going on now: In an announcement, the United Nations confirmed that it is suspending all humanitarian aid operations in Yemen’s Sa’ada governorate after more UN staff were detained by the Houthis. The pause in operations affects multiple UN agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, as well as several international aid organizations that operate in the region. This decision will have severe consequences for millions of Yemenis who rely on UN assistance for food, medical aid, and other essential services in a country already suffering from one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The UN stressed that the suspension will remain on hold until the Houthis provide security assurances and release the detained UN staff. In a statement, Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq added, “Our officials in Yemen are actively engaging with senior representatives of the de facto authorities, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all UN personnel and partners.”
