Abdelrahman
A United Nations agency worker from the World Food Programme (WFP) has tragically passed away while in Houthi custody in northern Yemen, the organization has reported.
According to the WFP, the deceased was one of seven Yemeni employees who had been “arbitrarily detained” by local authorities since January 23. Details surrounding the circumstances of his death remain unclear.
This incident was made public just one day after the UN announced it would suspend all operations in Saada, a region controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, due to escalating safety concerns. The UN also highlighted the recent detention of eight additional UN workers, six of whom were taken in Saada. Currently, over 60 members of various UN agencies, international NGOs, and foreign diplomatic missions are reportedly in detention.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq stated, “This extraordinary and temporary measure seeks to balance the imperative to stay and deliver with the need to have the safety and security of UN personnel and its partners guaranteed.”
Cindy McCain, the WFP executive director, shared on X that the worker, identified as Ahmed, was a “dedicated humanitarian and father of two” who had played a crucial role in delivering life-saving food assistance since joining the WFP in 2017. She expressed her heartbreak and outrage at the loss, emphasizing that “humanitarians are #NotATarget.”
There has been no immediate response from Houthi officials regarding this incident.
Yemen’s civil war, which intensified a decade ago with the Houthi takeover of the northwestern region, has created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Efforts by a Saudi-led coalition, supported by the US and UK, aimed to restore the internationally recognized government. This conflict has led to the deaths of over 150,000 individuals and left 4.8 million displaced, with 19.5 million people—about half the country’s population—requiring urgent assistance.
In recent weeks, the UN has been actively working with senior Houthi officials in an attempt to secure the release of all detained personnel. Despite their vital mission, UN agencies often struggle to reach communities in remote areas, as Houthi authorities frequently hinder humanitarian aid distribution.
Human rights organizations have reported that the Houthi movement is responsible for numerous human rights violations, including the kidnapping, torture, and arbitrary detention of civilians.
In June, the Houthis claimed to have dismantled an “American-Israeli spy network,” resulting in the arrest of 13 UN staff members, alongside over 50 NGO workers and an embassy employee. However, the UN Human Rights Chief dismissed these claims as unfounded.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to address the situation in Yemen later this week. Moreover, following attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and on Israel, US President Donald Trump recently re-listed the Houthis as designated foreign terrorist organizations.
