Yemeni pro-government fighters man a position near al-Muhsam camp during fighting to drive the pro-Iran Huthi rebels from the area of Harad, in Yemen鈥檚 Hajjah province on February 4, 2022. AFP
UNITED NATIONS 鈥� Five UN staff members have been abducted in the south of war-torn Yemen, the global body said on Sunday.
The five were kidnapped in the southern governorate of Abyan on Friday while returning to the port city of Aden 鈥渁fter having completed a field mission,鈥� UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko told AFP.
鈥淭he United Nations is in close contact with the authorities to secure their release,鈥� Kaneko added.
It was not immediately clear who had abducted the UN staff.
Aden became the base of Yemen鈥檚 internationally recognized government after it was ousted from the capital Sanaa by Huthi rebels in 2014.
A Saudi-led coalition has backed the government in the fight against the Iran-aligned Huthis since 2015, in a conflict that has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
Millions have also been displaced in what the UN calls the world鈥檚 biggest humanitarian crisis.
RELATED STORIES
Around 20 killed in deadliest coalition strikes on Yemen鈥檚 Sanaa since 2019
At least 134 Yemen rebels dead in latest Marib-area strikes 鈥� coalition
Yemen鈥檚 Houthis fail in second missile attack on UAE
Air strike on Yemen prison leaves at least 70 dead