On Saturday, October 25, 2025, the already precarious situation for international aid workers in Yemen took a sharp turn for the worse. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, also known as Ansar Allah, detained two female employees of the World Food Programme (WFP) from their homes in the capital city of Sanaa, according to multiple United Nations officials cited by the Associated Press and other outlets. The whereabouts of the two women remain unknown as of this writing, deepening concerns within the humanitarian community and forcing the United Nations to urgently reconsider its operations in the war-torn country.
Tragically, one of the detained women is reported to be in critical condition after suffering a premature birth earlier in October. Her newborn did not survive, compounding the gravity of her current predicament. As one UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained to the Associated Press, "One of the women was in critical condition after she gave premature birth and her baby died earlier this month." This woman is also the sister of another WFP worker who faced brief detention by the Houthis earlier in the month. Their brother, who suffers from kidney failure, was released by the rebels due to his rapidly deteriorating health.
These latest detentions are not isolated incidents. They are part of an increasingly aggressive campaign by the Houthis against international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its affiliates. According to reports from BBC and other news agencies, Houthi security forces detained two additional UN workers and raided the homes of several staff members on October 23 and 24, just days before the most recent arrests. The rebels have also repeatedly raided UN offices and seized vital assets, including communications equipment, over the past month.
Earlier in October, the Houthis detained over two dozen UN workers. While 12 international staff were eventually permitted to leave Yemen on October 22, at least 55 United Nations employees remain in Houthi custody, alongside numerous workers from non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and various diplomatic missions, according to UN officials. These detentions have sent shockwaves through the aid community, prompting the UN to suspend its operations in Yemen’s northern Saada province after eight staffers were detained in January 2025. In a further sign of the deteriorating security situation, the UN relocated its top humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from Sanaa to the coastal city of Aden, which serves as the seat of the internationally recognized government.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital, have justified their actions by alleging—without providing any evidence—that the detained UN staffers and those working with other international groups and foreign embassies are spies. The United Nations has fiercely denied these accusations. As one UN spokesperson told Reuters, "The UN fiercely denied the accusations." The organization has repeatedly called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel, emphasizing the critical role that humanitarian workers play in providing life-saving assistance to millions of Yemenis caught in the crossfire of a protracted civil war.
The crackdown on aid workers has not only jeopardized individual lives but is also undermining the broader humanitarian response in Yemen, a country already facing what the UN has described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The suspension of UN operations in Saada province and the relocation of key staff from Sanaa to Aden are stark indicators of the growing risks faced by international organizations on the ground. According to Al Jazeera, "The crackdown has forced the world body to reassess how it operates in the war-torn country."
For families of those detained, the situation is especially agonizing. The case of the woman in critical condition following the loss of her newborn is emblematic of the personal tragedies unfolding behind the headlines. Her brother’s release, prompted only by his severe kidney failure, highlights the dire health conditions many detainees face. The lack of transparency surrounding the whereabouts and well-being of the detained staff has only deepened fears for their safety.
International reaction to the Houthis’ actions has been swift and condemnatory. Human rights organizations and diplomatic missions have called on the rebels to respect international law and the protected status of humanitarian workers. The situation has also prompted renewed debate about the challenges of delivering aid in conflict zones, where political and military actors often view international organizations with suspicion, if not outright hostility.
Context is critical here: Yemen’s civil war has raged since 2014, pitting the Houthi movement—supported by Iran—against the internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition. The resulting chaos has devastated the country’s infrastructure, displaced millions, and left more than 80% of the population dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. The United Nations and its partners are among the few lifelines left for ordinary Yemenis, providing food, medical care, and other essential services in a landscape marked by violence, poverty, and disease.
The current wave of detentions is not the first time the Houthis have targeted aid workers, but the scale and intensity of the crackdown appear to be unprecedented. Repeated raids on UN offices, the seizure of communications equipment, and the mass detention of staff represent a significant escalation. For the United Nations, the safety of its personnel is paramount, but the organization also faces mounting pressure to maintain its presence and continue its mission in Yemen.
Despite the dangers, many humanitarian workers remain committed to their roles, aware that their efforts can mean the difference between life and death for countless Yemenis. Yet the risks are undeniable. As the UN continues to negotiate for the release of its staff and to adapt its operations to the shifting realities on the ground, the fate of those currently detained hangs in the balance.
For now, the international community watches anxiously, hoping that diplomatic pressure and public scrutiny will lead to the safe return of the detained workers. Their plight is a grim reminder of the human cost of war—and of the courage required to bring hope to those who need it most.
In Yemen, the line between humanitarian work and personal peril has never been so thin.
