UN halts humanitarian work in Yemen’s Houthi stronghold after staff detentions

The United Nations made a shocking announcement on Monday, revealing that it has decided to suspend its humanitarian operations in the stronghold of Yemen’s Houthi rebels. This decision was made after the rebels detained eight more U.N. staffers, causing a major disruption in the global response to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

In a statement released by the U.N., it was explained that the decision to halt all operations and programs in northern Saada province was due to the lack of necessary security conditions and guarantees. This move is considered to be “extraordinary” and highlights the seriousness of the situation at hand.

The Houthis, who are the rebel group in control of the region, have been responsible for the detention of numerous U.N. staffers in recent months, as well as individuals associated with aid organizations, civil society, and even the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Shockingly, none of the detained U.N. staffers have been released thus far.

The U.N. clarified that the pause in operations is intended to provide the Houthis and the international body with the opportunity to coordinate the release of the arbitrarily detained U.N. personnel and ensure that the necessary conditions are established to deliver crucial humanitarian aid in areas under rebel control. The most recent group of detained U.N. staffers, taken at the end of last month, includes six individuals working in Saada, which is located on Yemen’s northern border with Saudi Arabia.

Seven U.N. agencies, including the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF, operate in Saada, along with several international aid organizations. The suspension of all travel into Houthi-held areas was also announced by the U.N. late last month, further complicating the delivery of aid to those in need.

The war in Yemen has resulted in the deaths of over 150,000 people, including both combatants and civilians. The conflict began in 2014 when the Iranian-backed Houthis took control of Sanaa and most of the north, sparking a confrontation with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition. The U.N. had predicted that more than 19 million individuals across Yemen would require humanitarian assistance this year, as they grapple with the impacts of climate-related disasters, malnutrition, cholera outbreaks, and the economic repercussions of the ongoing conflict.

The rebels have imprisoned thousands of individuals during the war, and in recent months, they have intensified their crackdown on dissent, handing down death sentences to 44 people. In a rare gesture of goodwill in January, the Houthis unilaterally released 153 war detainees as part of efforts to ease tensions following the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Such prisoner releases have been seen as a potential catalyst for peace talks aimed at permanently ending the war in Yemen.