The United Nations demands the immediate release of its personnel following a raid by Houthi forces on a UN facility in Sanaa.
Published On 19 Oct 2025
Approximately twenty-four United Nations staff members have been detained by Houthi forces following a raid on a UN compound located in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, the UN has officially confirmed.
Jean Alam, spokesperson for the UN’s resident coordinator in Yemen, reported that the detention occurred within the premises situated in the Hada district on Sunday.
The group held includes at least five Yemeni nationals alongside fifteen international employees. Additionally, eleven other UN workers were briefly interrogated before being released.
Alam emphasized that the UN is actively engaging with the Houthi authorities and other involved parties to swiftly resolve the crisis, secure the release of all detained personnel, and regain full access and control over its facilities in Sanaa.
Another UN official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, revealed that the Houthi forces confiscated all communication devices inside the compound, including laptops, mobile phones, and servers.
The detained staff are affiliated with multiple UN agencies, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
This incident is part of a broader pattern of intensified restrictions and crackdowns by the Houthis against the UN and other international humanitarian organizations operating in areas under their control, including Sanaa, the strategic Red Sea port of Hodeidah, and the northern Saada province.
According to UN data, the total number of detained personnel now exceeds fifty.
Houthis Accuse UN Personnel of Espionage for Israel
The Houthi movement has repeatedly alleged that the detained UN staff, along with employees of foreign NGOs and diplomatic missions, are engaged in spying activities on behalf of the United States and Israel-claims that the United Nations firmly rejects.
In response to earlier detentions, the UN suspended its operations in Saada earlier this year and relocated its chief humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from Sanaa to Aden, the capital of the internationally recognized government.
On Saturday, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric issued a statement condemning the detentions, stating, “We will persist in demanding the immediate release of the 53 colleagues held arbitrarily.”
Dujarric’s remarks came after Houthi leader Abdelmalek al-Houthi delivered a televised speech claiming his group had uncovered “one of the most dangerous espionage networks,” alleging links to humanitarian organizations including the World Food Programme and UNICEF. The UN spokesperson described these accusations as “both dangerous and unfounded.”
The recent raid marks a significant escalation in the detention campaign. Since August 31, 2025, at least 21 UN staff members have been arrested, alongside 23 current and former employees of international NGOs, according to UN reports.
After a decade of conflict, Yemen remains one of the Arab world’s poorest nations, grappling with what the UN calls one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies worldwide, with millions dependent on aid for their survival.
