A United Nations (UN) staff member who was detained by Houthi rebels in Yemen has been confirmed dead.
The World Food Programme (WFP) expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the incident, revealing that the Yemeni employee had been in detention since January 23.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
However, his passing has sparked global concern, especially as he leaves behind a grieving wife and two children.
In response to the increasing arrests of humanitarian workers, the UN recently suspended its operations in Yemen’s Saada region, a stronghold of the Houthis.
Reports indicate that the rebels have detained dozens of UN and NGO workers since mid-2024, including eight UN staff members in January alone.
The Houthis had previously claimed that some of the detained workers were part of an “American-Israeli spy network,” a claim the UN firmly rejected.
As Yemen’s decade-long war continues, the country remains in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, raising fears over the safety of aid workers in the region.
More updates to follow as investigations unfold.
