Houthi security forces stormed the offices of UNICEF and the World Food Programme in Yemen’s capital Sana’a, trapping staff members inside, according to local reports.
The raid is part of a growing crackdown on international organizations operating under Houthi-controlled areas.
Separately, reports indicate that the Houthis have arrested at least 11 employees working for various United Nations agencies in Sana’a. The detentions and office raids mark a sharp escalation in tensions between the Houthis and the UN, raising fears over the safety of humanitarian workers and the delivery of aid to millions of Yemenis in need.
In 2019, several UN employees were briefly detained by the Houthis in Sana’a on accusations of “spying.” In 2021, they arrested more than a dozen Yemeni UN and NGO staff members, holding some for months without charges. In late 2023, five UN employees kidnapped in southern Yemen were released after 18 months in captivity following negotiations.