UN says Houthi forces entered several UN offices in Sana'a and removed equipment

The United Nations told reporters that Houthi de facto authorities entered at least six UN offices in Sana'a and removed much telecommunications equipment and several UN vehicles to unknown locations. The briefing quoted Julian Harness, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, as saying these actions were taken unilaterally and without prior discussion with the UN, a move that the briefing said eliminated opportunities to reach mutually acceptable arrangements for assistance delivery.

The spokesperson also said that the de facto authorities have not authorized the UN Humanitarian Air Service to operate flights to Sana'a for more than a month nor to Marib for more than four months, exacerbating the humanitarian situation in areas under their control. The briefing framed these access restrictions as occurring against the backdrop of more than 11 years of conflict in Yemen and said 19,500,000 people remain in need of humanitarian assistance with more than 4,800,000 internally displaced.

The spokesperson reiterated calls for the immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and civilian objects and for rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.