UN Suspends Humanitarian Operations in Yemen's Saada Amid Staff Detentions

The United Nations has suspended its humanitarian operations in northern Saada, Yemen, following the detention of eight UN staff members by Houthi rebels. This decision reflects the dire security conditions and lack of guarantees for personnel safety in the region, which is already confronting one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The UN aims to negotiate the release of the detained staff and ensure safer conditions for aid delivery. The Houthis have recently detained numerous UN and NGO personnel, severely impacting humanitarian efforts in Yemen, where over 19 million people require assistance due to ongoing conflict, malnutrition, and disease. The UN's pause in operations affects several agencies including the World Food Program and UNICEF, which operate in Saada. The conflict, ongoing since 2014, has resulted in over 150,000 casualties and continues to disrupt vital humanitarian support.