The United Nations (UN) has announced a suspension of all travel into areas held by Yemen's Houthi rebels following a series of detentions involving UN personnel. This latest move comes after the Houthis apprehended additional staff working in the capital, Al Jazeera reports, raising serious concerns over the safety of aid workers in the region.

In its statement, the UN noted, "To ensure the security and safety of all its staff, the United Nations has suspended all official movements into and within areas under the de facto authorities’ control." As of now, there are at least 16 Yemeni staff members in Houthi custody, part of a troubling trend where the Iran-backed group has targeted humanitarian workers, including those associated with US aid agencies, according to AP News.

This is not an isolated incident; the Houthis have previously detained UN workers and Yemeni employees linked to the US Embassy, prompting widespread condemnation from human rights organizations for their use of arbitrary detention and allegations of torture. The Houthis have also engaged in a media campaign accusing detainees of collaborating with foreign intelligence agencies, as noted by BBC.

Since the onset of the war in Yemen in 2015, which has led to over 150,000 deaths, the humanitarian situation has worsened significantly. More than 18 million Yemenis are in need of assistance, challenging the efforts of UN agencies that provide essential food and medical aid to the country. Despite this, the Houthis have reportedly obstructed the delivery of humanitarian relief in regions under their control.

The UN is reportedly in communication with Houthi officials in hopes of securing the release of detained workers, even as the rebels attempt to reduce their military engagements following a recent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The ongoing tensions could further complicate the already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, as highlighted by the fact that Al Jazeera explains, the detention of aid workers significantly hampers relief efforts in one of the poorest regions in the Middle East.

As the international community monitors these developments closely, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what measures will be taken to safeguard the humanitarian mission in Yemen.