Sana'a: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor plays a crucial role in protecting national interests and security by regulating the work of civil society organizations under signed agreements, monitoring their implementation, and ensuring that their activities focus on delivering aid to the needy-including the poor and persons with disabilities-while preventing any activities that serve the agendas of foreign or colonial powers.
According to Yemen News Agency, through a carefully selected team and in coordination with security agencies, the Ministry's leadership has maintained clear and constructive communication channels with representatives of international organizations-both Yemeni and foreign-ensuring their compliance with agreements related to humanitarian and development support amid the ongoing war and natural disasters.
The late Minister and martyr Samir Baj'alah played a pivotal role in managing this sensitive portfolio. He was known for his crisis-management skills, balanced approach, and concern for protecting employees' livelihoods. Under his leadership, the Ministry worked to direct organizations toward genuine development projects that served Yemen's social, economic, and political needs, while preventing activities that could compromise national sovereignty or interests.
According to ministry reports, several donor-supported projects have achieved positive results-notably in relief for displaced persons, aid to disaster victims, and mental health and rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities and the homeless. Among the key outcomes were cash and social welfare assistance to 1.5 million families totaling 66 billion riyals, and over 5 billion riyals mobilized to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.
However, these programs have significantly declined recently following Yemen's firm and principled stance in support of Gaza, as some donors have redirected funds to areas under occupation, reflecting a politically motivated bias that contradicts stated humanitarian principles.
Despite these challenges, the Ministry continues to manage NGO operations in accordance with national law, maintaining cooperation where beneficial while adhering to the directives of the Revolution's Leader, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, to prevent any violations that could harm the country.
Reports indicate that certain Western and Arab states-chiefly the U.S., U.K., France, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE-use civil society organizations as covers for intelligence operations, funding associations, initiatives, and unions under 'humanitarian,' 'rights-based,' or 'environmental' labels as part of strategies aimed at reshaping cultural and social awareness, particularly in areas under their influence.
Although there are formal partnership agreements between the United Nations and local Yemeni organizations, such as the 'Development-Humanitarian Approach' framework-intended to strengthen food security, support the economy, and empower marginalized groups-some aid programs reportedly pursue hidden political or ideological objectives, including expanding foreign influence and shaping public attitudes.
The Ministry has firmly but cautiously opposed programs that use foreign funding to promote controversial social or cultural agendas (e.g., women's rights, youth participation, governance), arguing that such initiatives can be politically instrumentalized and may conflict with Yemen's religious and social identity.
Aid and grants have also at times been used as political leverage, tools to fuel internal divisions, or means to weaken state institutions-turning ostensibly humanitarian projects into security concerns with implications far beyond their stated goals.
When such covert roles are exposed, some international actors accuse national governments-like Sana'a's-of repressing civil society, but it is vital to distinguish between legitimate legal oversight and excessive political control.
Experts affirm that the Ministry's role as a national supervisory authority is essential amid war and humanitarian crises, since civil society organizations can easily shift from being instruments of service to instruments of infiltration and manipulation. Continuous vigilance and strict oversight are therefore indispensable to protecting Yemen's sovereignty and national security.