The Iran-backed Houthi militias have told US and British nationals working with the United Nations and other aid groups that they must leave Houthi-controlled areas of the country within 30 days, three aid workers said Tuesday.
The order comes after the US military has bombed Houthi targets on an almost-daily basis over the past week, with British forces taking part on two occasions.
The militias presented their order to the UN earlier this week through the Houthi-run Foreign Ministry, said the aid workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity over concerns for their personal safety.
When asked about the move, Eri Kaneko, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, said that they had received a letter from the Houthi leadership confirming the order. She said the UN had no further comment at this time.
Washington and London say the strikes in Yemen are in retaliation for the Houthis’ ongoing attacks on commercial shipping, which the rebels say aim to end the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
One of the aid workers said the UN is negotiating with the Houthis to withdraw their decision.
At the same time, the UN and other agencies were working to get American and British workers out of the country, or relocate them in areas under the control of the internationally recognized government, he said.
Years of war have caused a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, leaving much of the population dependent on international aid to survive. The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, several northern provinces as well as much of the western highlands where the majority of Yemen’s population lives.
UK Foreign Office Minister Tariq Ahmad said: “The UN does an incredible job on the ground, and it’s done that in Yemen.”
Ahmad, who was attending a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza, said his message to the Houthis is simple: “Let people who often put their own lives at risk get on with the job to help alleviate suffering around the world, if it’s in Yemen or elsewhere.”
