Yemen : UN Suspends Humanitarian Flights to Sanaa Airport

Aden — The United Nations announced Wednesday evening the suspension of its humanitarian air operations to Sanaa International Airport, which is under Houthi control, following recent airstrikes on the facility. 

The move underscores escalating security risks in areas held by the group and the growing restrictions on humanitarian work.

The World Food Programme (WFP), which manages the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), confirmed that flights to Sanaa have been halted since July 13 after the airport was targeted in air raids. 

A recent WFP report noted that a humanitarian flight scheduled for July 6 to Marib was also canceled due to security concerns linked to tensions in neighboring Al-Jawf governorate.

Before the suspension, UNHAS had been operating weekly flights to Sanaa to transport international aid staff and support UN missions. 

In June alone, the service carried out 54 flights, moving 333 personnel from 16 UN agencies and 26 international NGOs, according to the report.

The suspension comes amid a series of obstacles faced by aid organizations in Houthi-controlled territories. 

The UN has previously halted flights to Sanaa on multiple occasions due to difficulties in securing permits from Houthi authorities.