Statement by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen on the Removal of UN Equipment and Assets to an Unknown Location by the Sana’a Authorities

Friday, 30 January 2026 - On Thursday, 29 January 2026, the Houthi De Facto Authorities (DFA) entered at least six UN offices in Sana'a, all of which are currently unstaffed, and removed to an unknown location most of the telecommunication equipment in these offices and several UN vehicles. The United Nations did not authorize the removal of these assets, nor did the DFA inform the UN of the reasons for doing so.

This equipment was all imported into Yemen in line with local procedures and with the required permissions. This equipment is part of the minimum infrastructure needed by the United Nations to be present and to implement programmes.

Furthermore, the Houthi DFA have not authorized the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to fly to Sana'a for more than a month nor to Mareb, which is controlled by the Internationally Recognised Government (IRG), for more than four months. The DFA have not explained the reasons for this.

UNHAS flights are the only means by which international non-governmental organization (NGO) personnel can enter and exit areas under the control of the DFA, and therefore this decision further constrains the delivery of humanitarian assistance in these areas.

This confiscation of UN assets and the blocking of UNHAS flights by the Sana'a DFA, comes at a time when humanitarian needs in Yemen, particularly in areas under their control, are increasing. This will make the humanitarian situation worse in those parts of Yemen controlled by the DFA.

The Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) for Yemen, Julien Harneis, regrets that the DFA took these actions unilaterally and without discussions with the UN, and therefore without any opportunity to find mutually acceptable arrangements for the delivery of assistance.

The RC/HC recalls Security Council Resolutions 2801 (2025) and 2813 (2026) calling upon the ‘Houthis to enable a safe and secure operating environment’, including through the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel from the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions.