On Saturday, a UN official confirmed that five UN staff members had been kidnapped in Yemen's dangerous Abyan province. "The UN staff members were on their way back to Aden after having finished a field assignment," said Russell Geekie, Senior Communications Advisor to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen. He stated, "The UN is in regular communication with the authorities to ensure their release."

Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen thought to be members of Yemen's al-Qaida branch intercepted a UN vehicle in Mudiyah district, east of Abyan province, according to local media. According to accounts, the gunmen kidnapped numerous UN employees and brought them to an unknown place.

No one has claimed responsibility for the abduction thus far. The al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network, which is located in Yemen and predominantly operates in the country's eastern and southern regions, has been responsible for a number of high-profile assaults against security personnel. Years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia have enabled the AQAP to grow its position in crucial parts of the war-torn Arab country.

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