CAIRO — On Monday, the United Nations announced that it has halted its humanitarian operations in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen due to the recent detention of eight additional U.N. personnel by the rebels. This suspension significantly impacts the ongoing global response to the severe humanitarian crisis affecting the nation.
The U.N. explained that this unprecedented decision to suspend all activities in northern Saada province was made due to a lack of adequate security conditions and necessary guarantees for the safety of its workers.
A spokesperson for the Houthis did not provide an immediate response to inquiries regarding this situation. The rebel group has been increasingly apprehending U.N. staff and affiliates connected with various aid organizations and civil society groups in recent months. As of now, none of the detained U.N. personnel has been released.
In their statement, the U.N. highlighted that the pause in operations is intended to allow the Houthis and the U.N. enough time to negotiate the release of these detained staff members and to ensure proper conditions are established for delivering essential humanitarian aid in the affected areas.
The recent detentions occurred late last month and involved six individuals who were working in Saada, which is located on Yemen’s northern border with Saudi Arabia. Currently, seven U.N. agencies are active in Saada, including the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF, in addition to numerous international aid organizations, according to the U.N. humanitarian office.
Last month, the U.N. also prohibited all travel into regions controlled by the Houthis.
Yemen’s ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 150,000 people, comprising both combatants and civilians. Since 2014, the Iranian-supported Houthis have been engaged in combat against Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is backed by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia. The conflict escalated when the Houthis advanced from their base in Saada to seize control of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen.
The U.N. has estimated that more than 19 million people across Yemen will require humanitarian assistance this year, as many are grappling with the repercussions of climate-related crises, malnutrition, cholera outbreaks, and the economic fallout from ongoing warfare.
Throughout the conflict, the Houthis have detained thousands of individuals and have recently intensified their efforts to suppress dissent by issuing death sentences to 44 individuals.
In January, the Houthis did make a unilateral gesture by releasing 153 war detainees as part of various initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. These releases have been perceived as potential stepping stones towards restarting discussions about ultimately ending the protracted conflict in Yemen.
