Yemen's resident coordinator's office shifted base to Aden, as announced by the United Nations
The United States (US) has relocated the place of appointment of the resident coordinator for Yemen to Aden, with the US resident coordinator continuing to fulfill his mandate across the war-torn country. The move, announced in July 2021, was welcomed by the Aden-based government.
The foreign ministry of the Aden-based government expressed its support for the US's decision, hoping that the relocation would strengthen the US's ability to support the people of Yemen in their time of need. However, the Yemeni Houthi-run Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the US officials' legal immunities, stating that they should not shield espionage activities.
The Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa, have been accused of detaining US personnel in the past. Currently, the Houthis are holding 23 US personnel, with some detained since 2021. The US's World Food Programme (WFP) has repeatedly condemned the actions of the Houthis, calling recent escalations 'intolerable.'
The WFP has requested the release of all aid workers who are currently detained by the Houthis. The organisation has cited arbitrary detention, forced entry into US offices, destruction, and seizure of property, and coerced actions against national staff as concerns. The WFP has also reported another US staff member's death while in Houthi custody in February.
The Yemeni conflict has left the country split between a Houthi administration in Sanaa and a Saudi-backed government in Aden since late 2014. The US previously stated that Houthi rebels raided its premises in Sanaa on August 31 and detained US staff following an Israeli strike.
The ongoing conflict and the detention of US personnel have not deterred the US from continuing its humanitarian efforts in Yemen. The WFP, for instance, has been providing food assistance to millions of Yemenis, helping to prevent widespread famine. The US remains committed to its mission of supporting the people of Yemen and working towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
