WFP says staff member died in detention in northern Yemen

The United Nations World Food Programme said on Tuesday that one of its staff members had died in detention in northern Yemen, where the U.N. has repeatedly called for the Houthi movement to free detained U.N. employees.

WFP did not specify when or how its employee, who it said had been detained on January 23 with six others, had died.

The United Nations paused all operations in Yemen's Sa'ada region on Monday after more U.N. staff were detained by the Houthi authorities, deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said.

"Heartbroken and outraged by the tragic loss of WFP team member, Ahmed, who lost his life while arbitrarily detained in Yemen. A devoted humanitarian and father of 2, he played a crucial role in our mission to deliver lifesaving food assistance", WFP Chief Cindy McCain said in a post on X.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have controlled most populated parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since seizing power in 2014 and early 2015. Since 2021 the Houthis have detained dozens of U.N. staff. The group now has some 24 U.N. staff in detention.

Yemen has been the focus of one of the world's largest humanitarian operations during a decade of civil war that disrupted food supplies. WFP says it provided assistance to 15.3 million people, or 47% of the population, in 2023.