The Yemeni Houthi movement has accused UN Secretary-General António Guterres of aligning with U.S. interests and politicizing humanitarian assistance following the suspension of UN operations in the rebel stronghold of Saada in February.

In a statement, Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed shock at what it described as the UN’s alignment with Washington, which has intensified airstrikes on Houthi positions in the Red Sea since March.

The statement criticized the UN’s actions as part of U.S.-led efforts to use humanitarian aid as a political tool.

The suspension of aid operations came after the arrest of eight humanitarian workers, six of whom were detained in Saada. The Houthis condemned the move as “collective punishment” against a region already devastated by military campaigns, blockades, and ongoing U.S. aggression.

“The suspension of aid in Saada represents a deliberate act of collective punishment against one of Yemen’s most vulnerable regions,” the statement emphasized, labeling the decision as “inhumane” and a violation of fundamental humanitarian principles. The Houthis warned that the suspension endangers thousands of lives, particularly those reliant on health services and food assistance.

The UN has countered these claims, stating that Yemeni rebels are holding dozens of UN workers, international organization staff, and diplomatic personnel hostage.

Yemen, plagued by over a decade of war, faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with one-third of its population malnourished and 4.5 million children out of school. The country remains heavily dependent on external aid to address its mounting challenges.

EN ESTA NOTA: