UN to Terminate Staff Contracts in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas

International sources reported that the United Nations Department of Safety and Security has notified all its staff in Sanaa and other Houthi rebels-controlled areas in Yemen that their contracts will be terminated effective March 31.

The move mirrors a similar decision by the World Food Programme at the end of January.

The UN decision comes after the department’s operations in Sanaa were disrupted when Houthi forces stormed its headquarters in October, seizing equipment from the UN’s central security operations room in Yemen, and continuing to detain around 13 staff members.

Sources added that the Houthis are still holding 73 UN employees hostage, including 50 staff from the World Food Programme and the Department of Safety and Security