The United Nations has suspended all humanitarian operations in northern Yemen due to the arbitrary detention of its staff members, according to a statement from Secretary-General António Guterres. The detentions have created hostile conditions for aid work, and the organization is seeking to balance its commitment to delivering aid with ensuring the safety and security of its personnel.
Eight more U.N. staff members were detained by the Houthis in late January, bringing the total number of arrests since 2021 to 24. This comes after an agreement reached in December was breached, as the group arrested more workers on charges of espionage and foreign intervention.
The World Food Program expressed outrage at the death of a staff member who was detained by local authorities, although it did not specifically identify the Houthis. The U.N. has stopped all staff travel to Houthi-controlled areas following the detentions.
The suspension affects the U.N.’s operations in Saada, where several agencies operate, including the World Food Program and UNICEF. Yemen is considered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with 80% of its population in need of aid and three million displaced.
This decision comes after a heated debate within the organization, with Guterres stating that it was not an easy choice but necessary to address safety concerns for U.N. operations in Yemen. Staff members have diplomatic immunity, which must be protected, and the hope is that this pause will provide space for negotiations with Houthis to guarantee safe conditions for the U.N. to resume its work.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/world/middleeast/united-nations-yemen.html