Sanaa – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has strongly condemned recent escalations by Houthi de facto authorities targeting humanitarian personnel in northern Yemen, calling the actions “intolerable” and a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

In a statement issued Tuesday, WFP denounced the arbitrary detention of 44 aid workers—including 21 of its own staff—alongside forced entry into UN offices, destruction of property, and coercive measures against national employees. The organization warned that these acts have severely compromised its ability to deliver life-saving assistance to millions of vulnerable Yemenis.

“These actions are unacceptable and undermine essential humanitarian operations at a time when Yemen faces one of the world’s worst food crises,” the statement read.

The detentions, which began escalating on August 31, have drawn widespread condemnation from UN agencies and humanitarian partners. The UN Secretary-General has joined calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained staff.

For nearly six decades, WFP has operated in Yemen, providing emergency food aid and supporting recovery efforts amid conflict, displacement, and famine. The agency emphasized that the safety and independence of humanitarian workers must be protected to ensure continued support for communities in need.