News - Middle East: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Sana’a has strongly condemned the recent statement issued by the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, criticizing it for defending UN employees accused of espionage activities inside Yemen.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry reaffirmed its firm rejection of the UN response, saying the organization should have first reviewed the “conclusive evidence” proving the involvement of several staff members from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF in “serious espionage activities.” These acts, the Ministry said, directly contributed to targeting senior Yemeni officials.

The statement described the UN’s denial of these facts and its defense of the accused individuals as “unjustifiable and irresponsible,” emphasizing that concealing such crimes constitutes “a grave violation of the UN Charter and humanitarian principles.”

The Ministry further warned of the growing danger posed by some international organizations that exploit humanitarian operations as a cover for intelligence work in favor of hostile entities — foremost among them the US and the Israeli occupation entity.

It called on the United Nations and its affiliated agencies to adhere strictly to their legal mandates and to distance themselves from actions that undermine Yemen’s national security. The statement stressed that “those who truly undermine humanitarian work are those who turn it into a tool for infiltration and espionage.”

The Foreign Ministry urged the UN Secretary-General to review his organization’s policies and correct its structural flaws to preserve its integrity and global reputation from being compromised by political and security agendas.

The statement also expressed appreciation for humanitarian organizations that respect neutrality, independence, and Yemeni law, affirming the government’s readiness to fully cooperate with them and facilitate their missions.

Concluding its remarks, the Ministry reiterated that any espionage or activity threatening Yemen’s security and stability “will be met with firm and decisive measures,” stressing that “no spy or saboteur will enjoy immunity, as national security and the supreme interests of Yemen come above all else.”

The UN statement comes in the wake of a major intelligence breakthrough recently announced by Yemen’s leadership, revealing the dismantling of a sophisticated espionage network operating under the cover of UN-affiliated organizations such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme. According to official statements, the network was linked to American and Israeli intelligence services and equipped with advanced surveillance tools aimed at penetrating Yemen’s communication systems and state institutions.

Yemeni officials described the discovery as a significant security achievement that exposed how certain international organizations had been infiltrated and exploited to conduct hostile operations against the country. The revelations have fueled public outrage and intensified calls for the United Nations to ensure neutrality and transparency within its agencies.