Sana’a – The United Nations has announced a comprehensive reassessment of its humanitarian and development operations in areas under the control of the Houthi movement in northern Yemen. 

This decision follows a series of alarming incidents, including the arbitrary detention of UN staff, raids on UN compounds, and increasing restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities in Sana’a.

According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the Houthis have taken “a number of steps since 2021 that have increased the difficulty of delivering humanitarian assistance to Yemenis,” including storming UN premises, seizing assets, and detaining both international and national staff.

The latest incident occurred on October 18, when armed Houthi forces entered the UN compound in Sana’a, reportedly at gunpoint, detaining 15 international staff and five national employees. While those individuals have since been released, approximately 53 locally recruited UN staff remain arbitrarily detained at undisclosed locations.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, confirmed that two additional staff members were detained in the past 48 hours, and several homes of UN personnel were raided. These developments have intensified concerns over the safety and operational viability of UN missions in the region.

The UN has reiterated its commitment to serving the Yemeni people but emphasized that the safety of its personnel and the integrity of its humanitarian work must be safeguarded. Discussions are ongoing within the UN system to determine the future scope and structure of its engagement in Houthi-controlled territories.

This reassessment comes at a critical time, as Yemen continues to face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions in need of food, medical care, and protection. The UN has called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure unimpeded access for aid workers.