Sana'a — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that Houthi authorities continue to detain nearly 40 of its staff working in areas under the group’s control in northern Yemen.

In a report issued Monday, WFP said the Houthis recently detained nine additional employees of the agency, along with four staff members from other UN agencies, during a campaign launched on December 18 against humanitarian workers in territories under their control.

According to the report, the total number of WFP employees detained by the Houthis in 2025 alone has risen to 38, in addition to 34 staff members from other UN agencies.

The agency confirmed that all WFP operations in Houthi-controlled areas remain suspended for the third consecutive month, due to the ongoing arbitrary detention of dozens of UN and humanitarian workers.