The World Food Programme (WFP) is set to terminate the contracts of its entire workforce of 365 employees in Houthi-run Yemen, as confirmed by a UN official to AFP on the previous day. This decision effectively marks the cessation of operations in an area heavily impacted by hunger.
The UN agency had ceased operations in territories controlled by the rebels since late August following the detention of 38 staff members in a series of raids by the Iran-supported Houthi group. The official, who chose to remain anonymous, disclosed that the combination of these events and a challenging funding climate has compelled the WFP to let go of all 365 staff members by the end of March.
These employees, all Yemeni nationals, represent the complete WFP workforce in regions under the de facto control of the Houthi authorities, with international staff having already been evacuated.
Yemen, where approximately 19.5 million people, over half of the population, required humanitarian aid in 2025 according to UN data, is predominantly governed by the Houthi faction. In a recent development, Yemen was identified by the WFP and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization as one of the countries facing an “imminent risk of catastrophic hunger” among its population.
