UN maintains Yemen operations despite death of aid worker in Houthi custody

The UN will continue its humanitarian operations in Yemen despite the recent death of a UN staffer while in the custody of the Houthi-aligned authorities, the organisation’s Resident Coordinator for the country confirmed yesterday.

Operations in the Houthi-controlled governorate of Saada were suspended temporarily after the de-facto authorities detained seven World Food Programme (WFP) employees on 23 January. One of them, identified as Ahmed, died in custody later under unknown circumstances.

“We are not suspending our operations in Yemen,” UN official Julien Harneis told a press conference in Amman, Jordan. “We paused in Saada because 10 per cent of our office [staff] was detained. Clearly, we don’t have the necessary operating environment there.”

I demand the immediate & unconditional release of the 7 UN colleagues arbitrarily detained by the Houthis in Yemen this week, as well as those previously detained & held.@UN personnel & partners must not be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their duties.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 25, 2025

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called repeatedly for a full investigation into Ahmed’s death, including forensic analysis. Harneis also met with the Sanaa government’s Foreign Minister, Jamal Amer, who pledged to conduct an inquiry, although this promise was made as Ahmed was being buried.

READ: UN envoy warns of possible negative effects of US terror designation for Yemen’s Houthis

The Houthis have a history of detaining aid workers, often accusing them of espionage, allegations that the UN denies strongly. Harneis suggested that humanitarian staff may be seen as a threat due to external calls for action against the Sanaa government, seemingly referencing Israeli threats made late last year.

Despite the growing risks, Harneis rejected suggestions to relocate UN operations from Sanaa to the internationally-recognised government-controlled city of Aden, warning that such a move would cost lives.

“How many people would you want to die?” he asked. “Children won’t get nutrition services, and when cholera hits again, there will be no one to help.”

On Friday, the UN Security Council condemned Ahmed’s death and demanded the immediate release of all detained UN and aid workers. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for Guterres, said that the ongoing detention of UN staff has compromised the “necessary security conditions and guarantees” for the continuation of UN operations in Saada.

READ: Yemen: Houthi gov’t urges UN to stick to the constitution in diplomatic talks