Recent UN data has revealed a rising hunger crisis in areas under the control of the Houthi militias, who have increased their repressive measures in targeting hundreds of local employees working for the United Nations and humanitarian organizations.
Local sources announced that the UN has suspended its activities in Houthi-controlled areas following the arrest of 69 of its staff members. This step reflects the scale of violations affecting humanitarian work and casts a heavy shadow over millions of aid beneficiaries in a country suffering from one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The World Food Program’s Yemen Food Security Update said that 32 percent of households in Houthi-controlled areas reported moderate to severe hunger (Phase 3+) in November 2025 compared to 25 percent in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government.
The use of crisis or emergency livelihood coping strategies was more widespread in Houthi-controlled areas (66 percent) than in government areas (58 percent), it said.
A greater proportion of households in Houthi areas (49 percent) reported restricting adults’ food consumption in favor of children, compared to 44 percent in government areas.
These patterns highlight deeper vulnerability in areas run by the Houthis, amid “prolonged assistance suspension and limited livelihood options,” the Food Security Update added.
As the food crisis worsens, sources working in the relief sector told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis have prevented hundreds of Yemeni employees working for the UN and international and local relief organizations - as well as those who had previously worked with foreign diplomatic missions - from leaving areas under their control.
According to the sources, these individuals are subjected to house-arrest conditions and have become vulnerable to arrest at any time.
The sources also reported that the group used employee data that had previously been submitted through organizations and passed it to its intelligence arm.
Lists including the names of all staff working for organizations, in addition to those who had worked with diplomatic missions, were circulated to security checkpoints spread from the outskirts of Sanaa to the front lines with government-controlled areas.
This week, the total number of UN staffers detained by the Houthis rose to 69.
