Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Julian Harnis, said that the temporary capital, Aden, has witnessed a noticeable improvement in some basic services in recent times, particularly in the electricity sector, coinciding with rapid support interventions from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Harnis explained, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, that the return of the government electricity grid has reduced the near-total reliance on generators, which for years had been a source of disturbance and pollution for residents. He added that he recently departed Yemen via Aden International Airport and observed rehabilitation works on the airport runway, describing this as a “positive development.”
The UN official noted that Saudi Arabia’s development interventions in Yemen are “no less important than humanitarian aid,” pointing out that the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen is implementing projects in several areas, alongside its support for the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Detention of Staff and Seizure of Offices
In another context, Harnis revealed that the Houthi group continues to detain around 73 individuals working with the United Nations, in addition to former staff members, confirming that one of the detainees died while in custody. He said that several UN offices in Sana’a remain either closed or under the control of Houthi-affiliated security forces.
He added that hundreds of UN communication devices and pieces of equipment have been confiscated, directly affecting the ability of humanitarian agencies to operate, noting that there are no indications of an imminent breakthrough on this issue.
Harnis described the situation as “extremely frustrating,” particularly in light of growing humanitarian needs, stressing that the United Nations continues to demand the release of all detained staff and calls for respect for the neutrality of humanitarian work.
Riyadh Visit and Humanitarian Coordination
The UN coordinator explained that his visit to Riyadh was to participate in meetings with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, within the framework of discussions on the global humanitarian landscape, with a special focus on Yemen.
He said the center is among the most prominent supporters of the humanitarian response in Yemen over the past years, noting that cooperation between the United Nations and the center “has existed for years and is characterized by ongoing coordination.”
Relocation of the Office to Aden
Harnis confirmed that the decision to relocate the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator from Sana’a to Aden was made by the UN Secretary-General, attributing it to several factors, including the treatment faced by the United Nations in Sana’a, as well as the fact that the Yemeni government is the country’s official representative at the international organization.
He added that relations with the Yemeni government are “positive,” and that there is ongoing coordination regarding development priorities and humanitarian response.
Priorities for the Next Phase
Regarding the next phase, Harnis said the United Nations is focusing on supporting government efforts in the field of development in line with national priorities, while continuing humanitarian response efforts, particularly in Houthi-controlled areas, through international non-governmental organizations.
He revealed that Yemen’s 2026 humanitarian response plan requires estimated funding of approximately $2.16 billion, including $1.6 billion allocated for priority needs, foremost among them food security, health, and nutrition.
