Five UN workers kidnapped in the south

This is a blow to the United Nations in war-torn Yemen. Five UN employees have been kidnapped in the south of the country, the international organization announced on Sunday.

They were kidnapped in Abyan governorate on Friday as they were returning to the port city of Aden “after carrying out a field mission”, UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said. “The United Nations is in close contact with the authorities to ensure their release,” she added. The identity of the kidnappers has not been specified.

A terrible humanitarian crisis, according to the UN

Aden has become the base of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, after it was ousted from the capital Sanaa by Houthi rebels in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition backs the executive in its war against the Houthis, backed by Iran, since 2015.

The conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. According to the UN, this is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.