News - Yemen: Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced the World Health Organization (WHO) for halting its aid programs supporting the country’s health sector, describing the move as “politically motivated and contrary to humanitarian principles.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras said the WHO continues to operate freely in Yemen, yet is “blatantly politicizing humanitarian work,” calling the organization’s stance “a dangerous deviation from its humanitarian mandate.”

Abu Ras added that several UN agencies have in recent years suspended numerous aid programs, ultimately becoming involved in targeting the government and cutting support for the health sector. He noted that basic services have come under hostile pressure, including the suspension of subsidized oxygen supplies to hospitals.

The deputy minister reaffirmed the government’s welcome of impartial humanitarian efforts, emphasizing that many international organizations maintain good relations with the government and receive full facilitation for their activities.

Abu Ras also referred to recent developments regarding individuals accused of espionage, saying those involved have been referred to the judiciary. He explained that “the primary and clear reason for the detentions was the involvement of a cell within the World Food Programme (WFP) in directly targeting the government.”

Investigations, according to Abu Ras, revealed the involvement of these cells in targeting senior figures, including Prime Minister martyr Ahmad Ghaleb Al-Rahwi. He stressed that all security measures were taken under full judicial supervision and with continuous coordination with the prosecution, and that the case file has been formally referred to the competent judicial authorities for ruling.

Abu Ras further stated that strong evidence confirms the cell’s involvement, revealing additional violations committed by some organizations. These included smuggling intelligence and espionage equipment into the country without authorization, an act he said constitutes a breach of national laws and sovereignty.

Recently, a major intelligence breakthrough 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.