Flags at all UN offices in Yemen are flying at half-mast this week following the death of a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member who had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities in the north since last month.

“Heartbroken and outraged by the tragic loss of WFP team member, Ahmed, who lost his life while arbitrarily detained in Yemen,” Executive Director Cindy McCain said on Tuesday in a post on the social media platform X.  

She described him as “a devoted humanitarian and father of two”, who “played a crucial role in our mission to deliver lifesaving food assistance.”

Dozens in detention

Ahmed was among seven national staff detained by local authorities in northern Yemen since 23 January. 

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, are also holding dozens of personnel from the UN, national and international NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions – some have been detained for several years.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the death of the WFP staff member and expressed solidarity with all detained colleagues and their families.

A ‘deplorable tragedy’

“The circumstances surrounding this deplorable tragedy remain unclear, and the United Nations is urgently seeking explanations from the Houthi de facto authorities,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I call for an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.”

Mr. Guterres said the continued arbitrary detention of the other personnel is “unacceptable”.  He renewed his call for their immediate and unconditional release. 

“The United Nations continues to follow this situation closely and will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of our staff in their efforts to deliver for the people of Yemen,” he said.

Humanitarian freeze amid immense needs

In response to the latest Houthi detentions, the Secretary-General on Monday instructed all UN agencies, funds and programmes to halt operations in Sa’ada governorate in northwest Yemen.

“This extraordinary and temporary measure seeks to balance the imperative to stay and deliver with the need to have the safety and security of the UN personnel and its partners guaranteed,” his Office said in a note to correspondents.

A decade of conflict between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces, who are backed by a Saudi-led coalition, has left some 18. 2 million people – more than half the population – in need of humanitarian assistance. 

WFP supports millions through its programmes, which include delivering essential food to conflict-affected families, feeding schoolchildren, and providing nutritional support to women and children, including in camps for internally displaced people.