Aden — The wife of Sami Al-Kalabi, a Yemeni national working with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, has publicly disclosed alarming details about her husband’s deteriorating health condition, more than a year after his abduction by Houthi forces in Sana’a.

Al-Kalabi was forcibly taken by Houthi security agents in June 2024, amid a broader crackdown on UN and humanitarian staff operating in Houthi-controlled territories. Since then, his family has been denied access to him, and all communication has been severed. His wife, who spoke anonymously for security reasons, said she received indirect confirmation from local sources that his health has worsened significantly, raising fears for his life.

“We haven’t heard from Sami in over two weeks,” she said. “We’ve been told he’s in critical condition, but no one is allowed to see him. We’re terrified he may not survive.”

The revelation comes amid growing international concern over the treatment of UN personnel detained by the Houthis. In recent months, the group has intensified its campaign against aid workers and local staff, prompting the United Nations to suspend operations in northern Yemen, including Saada governorate.

Al-Kalabi’s case is emblematic of the risks faced by local humanitarian staff, who often operate without the protections afforded to international personnel. Rights groups have condemned the Houthis’ actions as violations of international law and called for the immediate release of all detained UN employees.

A spokesperson for the UN Special Envoy’s office declined to comment on individual cases but reiterated calls for the safe and unconditional release of all detained staff. “The continued detention of our colleagues is unacceptable and undermines humanitarian efforts in Yemen,” the statement read.

The abduction of Al-Kalabi and others has sparked outrage among humanitarian organizations, with some warning that the escalating repression could jeopardize aid delivery to millions of Yemenis facing famine, displacement, and disease.

As of October 2025, the fate of Sami Al-Kalabi remains unknown. His family continues to appeal to international bodies, including the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, for urgent intervention.