The U.N. food agency says one of its staffers detained last month by Houthi rebels in Yemen has died in prison.

A World Food Programme (WFP) worker has died while in detention in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen, according to the UN agency. The WFP said the man was one of seven Yemeni staff "arbitrarily detained" by local authorities since 23 January.

A UN aid worker, Ahmed, died while detained by Houthi rebels in Yemen. His death follows the UN suspension of humanitarian operations in northern Yemen due to security concerns. The conflict in Yemen has led to severe humanitarian issues,

The total employees arrested since 2021 has risen to 24, a U.N. spokesman said. The Iran-backed Houthis have held them on murky charges of espionage and foreign intervention.

The man, identified only as Ahmed, was one of seven WFP staffers detained by the rebel group on Jan. 23; no cause of death was given