The United Nations has raised concerns over fresh constraints on humanitarian operations in Yemen after Houthi militants seized telecommunications equipment and vehicles from several UN offices in the capital, Sanaa, underscoring the growing fragility of aid delivery in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
UN Statement Details Seizure of Telecom Equipment From Unstaffed Offices in Sanaa
According to an official statement issued on Friday by the office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Julien Harneis, Houthi militants entered at least six UN offices in Sanaa on Thursday and removed most telecommunications equipment along with several UN vehicles, transferring them to an undisclosed location. The statement clarified that all the offices were unstaffed at the time of the incident and that the Iran-backed group did not provide any explanation for the seizure or engage in prior discussions with the United Nations. UN officials warned that the actions could significantly disrupt humanitarian coordination and access to services in Houthi-controlled areas, where the majority of Yemen’s impoverished population resides.
Impact on Humanitarian Access and Aid Operations in Houthi-Controlled Yemen
The confiscation comes amid an already deteriorating operating environment for international agencies. The UN statement highlighted that Houthi authorities have also blocked flights operated by the UN Humanitarian Air Service to Sanaa for more than a month, while access to a nearby government-controlled area has been restricted for an even longer period. UN officials indicated that these measures further constrain the delivery of life-saving assistance and complicate logistical planning across northern Yemen.
The development followed confirmation from a UN official, speaking to Agence France-Presse, that the World Food Programme had begun terminating the contracts of all 365 staff working in Houthi-controlled parts of the country. The official cited a combination of funding shortages and mounting safety concerns for employees as the reasons behind the decision.
UN data show that approximately 19.5 million people in Yemen, representing more than half of the population, were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2025. In November, the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization classified Yemen among countries facing an imminent risk of catastrophic hunger. The resident coordinator’s office emphasized that the seizure of UN assets and flight restrictions occurred at a moment when humanitarian needs were intensifying, warning that these actions were likely to exacerbate conditions in areas under Houthi control.