Families of Yemeni aid workers detained by Houthi rebels in Sanaa are living in fear and uncertainty, with many describing themselves as 'ghosts of people.' Since a crackdown began in May 2024, dozens of local staff from humanitarian groups, United Nations agencies, and other organizations have been arrested, often without charges or trials. Loved ones recount terrifying raids, months of silence, and brief, heavily monitored calls that offer little reassurance about the detainees' wellbeing.

The Houthis claim the detainees are spies for Western countries and Israel, accusations their families and the United Nations strongly deny. As military tensions escalate in Yemen, families worry for the safety of those held in facilities that could be targeted by airstrikes. Despite international pressure and some releases, dozens of Yemeni aid workers remain imprisoned, leaving their families in anguish and desperate for answers.