As dusk settled over Sana’a last Wednesday, armed Houthi fighters surrounded the United Nations compound in Yemen’s capital, beginning what would become a systematic operation against international aid organizations across the country. I’ve spent years tracking the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, but this escalation marks a dangerous new chapter in the relationship between the Iran-backed rebels and international humanitarian groups.
“They came in without warning, confiscated our phones, and detained multiple staff members,” said a UN worker who requested anonymity due to security concerns. “The level of intimidation was unprecedented.”
According to officials from three separate UN agencies, Houthi forces have detained at least 15 UN staff members and raided multiple humanitarian organization offices across territories under their control. The raids have targeted the offices of the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the UN Human Rights Office among others.
The Houthi authorities claim these operations stem from suspicions that aid organizations have been engaged in “intelligence activities” – allegations that UN Secretary-General António Guterres firmly rejected in a statement released yesterday.
“These actions represent a serious violation of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and significantly hinder our ability to deliver critical aid to millions of vulnerable Yemenis,” Guterres said.
This crackdown comes at a particularly sensitive moment in regional politics. The Houthis have intensified their maritime attacks in the Red Sea as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Since November, they’ve attacked or seized nearly 30 vessels, significantly disrupting one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
I spoke with Mohammed Al-Harazi, a Yemeni analyst based in Amman, who believes this is calculated pressure. “The Houthis are leveraging their regional importance to consolidate control domestically. By targeting aid organizations, they’re sending a message about who governs in northern Yemen.”
The humanitarian stakes couldn’t be higher. Yemen remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with the UN estimating that 21.6 million people – two-thirds of the population – require humanitarian assistance. The World Food Programme alone assists 9.5 million Yemenis monthly with food aid.
“The timing is particularly devastating,” explained Ferran Puig, Yemen country director for Oxfam. “We’re facing severe funding shortfalls already, and these disruptions mean vulnerable communities won’t receive critical supplies.”
In Hajjah province, I witnessed the impact of aid reductions firsthand during my last visit. At Al-Jumhori Hospital, Dr. Fatima Nasser showed me the pediatric malnutrition ward operating at triple capacity. “If aid organizations are forced to scale back further, we’ll see immediate consequences,” she warned.
The pattern of Houthi harassment of aid agencies isn’t new, but the scale of the current campaign represents a significant escalation. Last year, Human Rights Watch documented systematic interference with aid operations, including arbitrary detentions and restrictions on movement.
“What’s different now is the brazenness,” said Gregory Johnsen, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute. “Raiding UN offices and detaining international staff crosses a line that even the Houthis had previously respected.”
The United States, which recently redesignated the Houthis as a terrorist organization, condemned the raids. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called for the immediate release of all detained personnel and unhindered humanitarian access.
For ordinary Yemenis, the raids represent yet another obstacle to survival in a conflict entering its tenth year. In a displacement camp outside Marib, I met Aisha, a mother of four who fled fighting three times in the past decade. “We depend on these organizations for everything – food, medicine, clean water,” she told me. “When they can’t work, we suffer immediately.”
The broader implications for international humanitarian law are significant. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and host country agreements provide legal protection for UN premises and staff, principles being openly violated in these raids.
Some regional observers suggest the timing may be tied to ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis to end Yemen’s civil war. By demonstrating control over international organizations, the Houthis may be strengthening their negotiating position.
As darkness falls over Yemen again tonight, aid workers across Houthi-controlled territories remain on high alert. Some organizations have temporarily suspended non-essential activities while diplomatic channels work to secure the release of detained staff.
For a country where famine has repeatedly threatened and where over half the population lacks access to clean water, the stakes of this standoff extend far beyond diplomatic principles. The lives of millions hang in the balance of a conflict that seems increasingly complex and intractable with each passing day.
