UN says Houthi seizure of telecom gear threatens Yemen aid

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi paramilitary has removed critical telecommunications equipment belonging to the U.N., the global body said on Friday, warning

that further restrictions on its work would fuel a worsening humanitarian crisis



The Houthis, who control areas in north Yemen, entered at least six unstaffed U.N. offices in the capital Sanaa and took telecommunications equipment and several vehicles to an unknown location, the U.N.'s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Julien Harneis said in a statement.



"This equipment is part of the minimum infrastructure needed by the United Nations to be present and to implement programmes," said Harneis.



Two U.N. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, later told Reuters the World Food Programme had stopped operations in the north of Yemen because of operational challenges, and 365 employees of the U.N. agency would have their contracts terminated at the end of March.



One of the sources said funding matters had also contributed to the decision after cuts by some donors.