Making an unprecedented decision, UN Secretary-General António Guterres officially announced that he has instructed “all UN agencies, funds, and programs to suspend all operations and initiatives in Saada, Yemen.”
Guterres’ resolution comes in response to the kidnapping of eight more UN workers by the Houthis, raising the total number of UN personnel currently held hostage to 28.
Over the past six months, the Houthis have kidnapped dozens of UN employees, aid workers, and former staff members of the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a which operated before being shut down. At the end of last month, eight additional UN workers were abducted.
Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq explained that halting humanitarian operations in Saada is intended to give both the Houthis and the UN “time to plan the release of the workers who were arbitrarily detained”, and to ensure that a course of action is taken to create safe conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid to the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Haq further stated that “this unprecedented and temporary measure is aimed at balancing the need to continue meeting humanitarian needs while ensuring the safety of UN personnel and their partners.”
The UN’s firm stance underscores the severity of the crisis as it prioritizes the safety of its personnel. With operations suspended, international pressure mounts on the Houthis to secure the hostages’ release and restore humanitarian aid to those in need.
