The United Nations has suspended humanitarian operations in northern Saada after rebels detained eight more U.N. staffers, during one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The United Nations said on Tuesday that one of its staff members had died in detention in northern Yemen, where the U.N. has repeatedly called for the Houthi movement to free detained U.N. employees.

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.