CAIRO (AP) — Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have escalated their crackdown on the United Nations in Yemen, detaining two additional workers on Saturday, according to U.N. officials. The two female workers from the World Food Program were taken from their homes in the capital, Sanaa. As of now, their whereabouts remain unknown.
One of the detained women is reported to be in critical condition after suffering a premature birth earlier this month, which resulted in the death of her baby. This woman is the sister of another World Food Program employee who was briefly detained earlier. Moreover, her brother, who is in poor health due to kidney failure, was released by the Houthis after his condition worsened. The officials highlighted that they were speaking anonymously as they are not authorized to discuss these matters with the media.
These recent detentions are part of a broader pattern of hostility against U.N. personnel in Yemen, compelling the world body to reevaluate its operations in the conflict-ridden nation. Just days before Saturday's detentions, the Houthis had arrested two other staff members and conducted raids on the homes of several U.N. personnel on both Thursday and Friday. This series of actions has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of international humanitarian workers in the region.
Over the course of this month, the Houthis have routinely targeted U.N. offices, with incidents including the seizure of assets and communications equipment. Reports indicate that over two dozen U.N. workers were detained before 12 international staff were allowed to leave Yemen on Wednesday. Currently, at least 55 U.N. staff members continue to be held captive by the Houthis, alongside numerous workers from other non-governmental organizations and civil society groups linked to various diplomatic missions.
The relentless crackdown has led the United Nations to pause its operations in Saada province, northern Yemen, following the detention of eight staff members in January. Additionally, the U.N. has relocated its senior humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from Sanaa to the coastal city of Aden, which serves as the base for the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Throughout this tumultuous period, the Houthis have made unsubstantiated accusations against the detained U.N. personnel, suggesting that they are spies, a claim that the U.N. has robustly denied. The deterioration of relations between the Houthis and the U.N. compromises humanitarian efforts and further threatens the well-being of countless civilians who depend on aid in this war-torn region.
