UN Accuses Houthis of Diverting Aid and Abducting Staff

The United Nations has accused Houthi militia of diverting humanitarian aid meant for millions of civilians and perpetrating a pattern of abductions targeting UN personnel, according to Julian Harness, the UN’s top humanitarian official in the country.

Speaking at the Third Yemen International Forum in Amman on Wednesday, Harness condemned the Iran-aligned group for “systematically blocking aid delivery” to populations in Houthi-controlled areas and failing to halt the kidnapping of UN staff. “These acts occur without accountability and could escalate at any moment,” he warned.

Commenting on Yemen’s dire humanitarian situation, Harness acknowledged the UN’s vulnerability stemming from its lack of military presence on the ground. This weakness, he noted, forces the organization to engage with armed factions, "even extremist groups like Al-Qaeda." He drew parallels to the UN’s dealings with Al-Qaeda during its 2015 takeover of Mukalla, stating that the Houthis now represent a similar "de facto authority" across vast territories they control.

Harness revealed that the UN has temporarily suspended operations in Saada province, the Houthi stronghold in northern Yemen, following the disappearance of 10% of its field staff there. He added that closing other UN facilities remains "challenging" due to humanitarian obligations to millions of women and children reliant on aid.

In a contentious disclosure, Harness stated he had no knowledge of any job postings to fill roles previously held by kidnapped staff members. This raises questions about the UN’s protocols for addressing vacancies created by such incidents.