The United Nations is once again raising the alarm over the fate of its staff in Yemen, as Houthi rebels intensify a wave of detentions and crackdowns on humanitarian operations in the war-torn country. In the latest development, the UN confirmed that nine more of its employees have been arbitrarily detained by the Iranian-backed Houthis, bringing the total number of detained UN personnel in Houthi-controlled territories to 53 since 2021, according to UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a forceful condemnation of the detentions, describing them as arbitrary and unlawful. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns this arbitrary detention of UN personnel, as well as that of our partners, and the ongoing unlawful seizure of UN premises and assets in areas under Houthi control," Dujarric stated in New York on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, as reported by multiple international outlets. He emphasized that these actions "hinder the UN’s ability to operate in Yemen and to deliver critical assistance."
The Houthis, formally known as the Ansar Allah movement, have been locked in a bitter conflict with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for more than a decade. Since 2014, the rebels have controlled large swathes of territory, including the capital, Sana’a, forcing the government to relocate to the southern city of Aden. The ongoing civil war—punctuated by foreign intervention, shifting alliances, and regional rivalries—has left Yemen’s civilian population in dire need of humanitarian aid.
The recent detentions are part of what UN officials describe as a "long-running crackdown" by the Houthis on international organizations operating in their territory. In addition to UN staff, the rebels are holding personnel from international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and diplomatic missions, all of whom are Yemeni nationals. The Houthis have previously linked their campaign against the UN and other international groups to alleged espionage activities, though they have provided no public evidence to support such claims. Requests for comment from Houthi spokespeople have gone unanswered, according to press reports.
The crackdown has not been limited to detentions. In August 2025, the Houthis raided UN offices in Sana’a, detaining 19 employees in a single sweep. The deputy director of UNICEF in Yemen, Lana Shukri Kataw, was later released, but the incident underscored the perilous environment for aid workers in Houthi-held areas. Earlier in the year, the UN was forced to suspend its operations in the northern province of Saada after eight staff members were detained in January 2025.
The ongoing detentions and asset seizures have severely hampered the UN’s ability to deliver life-saving aid in a country already reeling from years of conflict, economic collapse, and widespread hunger. Yemen is widely recognized as one of the Arab world’s poorest countries, with millions dependent on international assistance for basic survival. "These actions hinder the UN’s ability to operate in Yemen and to deliver critical assistance," Dujarric reiterated, echoing the Secretary-General’s urgent call for the "immediate and unconditional release of all the UN and other personnel being detained."
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the UN last month relocated its top humanitarian coordinator from Sana’a to Aden, the seat of the internationally recognized government. This move, while necessary for staff safety, has further complicated the already challenging logistics of aid delivery in a country divided by front lines and shifting allegiances.
The Houthis’ campaign against the UN and other international organizations has unfolded against a backdrop of broader regional tensions. Since the war in Gaza erupted—now entering its third year—the Houthis have launched drone and missile attacks against Israel and targeted Israeli and other commercial ships in the Red Sea. These actions, which the rebels claim are acts of solidarity with the Palestinian people, have drawn international condemnation and prompted retaliatory airstrikes from Israel. The tit-for-tat attacks have added another layer of instability to an already volatile region and have further complicated humanitarian operations in Yemen.
The roots of Yemen’s civil war stretch back to 2014, when the Houthis seized Sana’a and much of the country’s north, forcing the government into exile. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition—including the United Arab Emirates—intervened in an attempt to restore the government. While the conflict has largely stalemated in recent years, a deal struck between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia brought a halt to Houthi attacks on the kingdom in exchange for a cessation of Saudi-led strikes on Houthi territory. Nonetheless, the war’s legacy continues to shape daily life for millions of Yemenis, with humanitarian needs remaining acute.
UN officials have repeatedly stressed that their personnel must be respected and protected under international law. "They must be respected and protected in accordance with applicable international law," Dujarric said in his statement. The Secretary-General has renewed his call for all detained UN and other personnel to be released without delay, insisting that "UN personnel must be allowed to work without hindrance, and that UN premises and assets are inviolable and must be protected at all times."
Despite the mounting challenges, the UN has vowed to continue its efforts to secure the release of its staff and restore its operations in Houthi-held areas. "The United Nations will continue to work tirelessly, and through all available channels, to secure the safe and immediate release of all arbitrarily detained personnel, as well as the return of UN agency offices and other assets," Dujarric affirmed. The Secretary-General, for his part, "remains steadfast in the UN commitment to support the people of Yemen and their aspirations for a just and lasting peace."
As the number of detained aid workers grows and humanitarian access shrinks, the crisis in Yemen risks fading from the world’s attention. Yet for those on the ground—both the detained staff and the millions who rely on their work—the stakes could hardly be higher. With the UN’s ability to operate increasingly constrained, the future of humanitarian relief in Yemen hangs in the balance, awaiting the outcome of a standoff with no clear end in sight.
