Saada (South24) 

The United Nations (UN) announced the temporary suspension of all its humanitarian operations in Saada Governorate, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Houthi group, following the detention of eight of its employees last month, including six working in the governorate.

The UN said in a statement on Monday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres directed halting of the organization’s agencies, funds and programs in Saada due to "the absence of the necessary security conditions and guarantees," stressing that the continued detention of employees hinders the UN’s ability to carry out humanitarian tasks effectively.

The statement added that the exceptional and temporary decision aims to achieve a balance between continuing to provide humanitarian assistance and ensuring the security and safety of UN employees and their partners working in the field. The UN stressed that providing security guarantees is a basic condition for the sustainability of humanitarian operations in the region.

The organization explained that this suspension gives them the necessary time to arrange the release of detained employees and reach understandings with the Houthi authorities on creating a safe environment for the resumption of humanitarian activities. It stressed that any resumption of operations in Saada must be based on basic humanitarian principles, including neutrality, impartiality and independence.

The UN emphasized its commitment to continue supporting millions of people in need in Yemen, and said that it is working with all parties to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable groups across the country.

On January 4, the UN announced a halt to official movements in Houthi-controlled areas in North Yemen, as a result of the arrest of UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) staff.

In June 2024, the Houthis arrested several UN staff in Sanaa, dozens of NGO staff, and former US Embassy staff in Sanaa.

The New York Times quoted UN spokesperson Farhan Haq as saying that UN Secretary General António Guterres made the decision to suspend activities because the Houthis detained eight more UN staff members in late January, bringing the total arrested since 2021 to 24.