Thirty-seven United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) workers, including some employed by the U.S. government, are being held captive by Houthi rebels in Yemen, the agency's new executive director told Fox News Digital. Many have been detained for close to two years.

Luke J. Lindberg, who took office recently, stated that these workers are Yemeni nationals employed locally by the WFP and have been separated from their families for extended periods. While no American citizens are among the detained in Yemen, Lindberg noted that the U.S. government does employ some locally hired staff who are part of the detained population.

Lindberg has raised the issue with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Rounds, who is aware of the situation. The State Department has been actively engaged in addressing the detentions, which Lindberg described as a priority.

"These folks are out there to provide basic humanitarian services. They're not there to influence the political outcomes of a conflict. And so we need to protect them, and we need to get our detained colleagues released," Lindberg said.

The detentions occur against the backdrop of Yemen's ongoing civil war, which has severely impacted the economy and left millions reliant on humanitarian aid. More than 18 million people face acute food insecurity, with over two million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition.

Lindberg emphasized the challenging conditions under which WFP operates globally, stating, "Our team operates in the most impossible and challenging conditions you can imagine around the world." He highlighted that the individuals directly delivering aid are the true heroes, working in difficult environments.

The WFP must navigate delivering aid to vulnerable populations while protecting its employees from risks. Lindberg indicated that the agency sometimes avoids operating in certain areas to ensure staff safety, with the ultimate goal of an end to conflicts to allow unimpeded humanitarian access.

Beyond Yemen, Lindberg pointed to several other urgent humanitarian crises, including those in Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia, where conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters are pushing communities toward famine. He identified Sudan as his first field destination, reflecting the severity of the situation there.

"Right now, we are approaching famine levels in three countries, predominantly in the Africa region, in Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia," Lindberg said. "And so those are flash points for me that are incredibly important for us to focus on, find the resources that should be available to help us meet those needs specifically."

Other critical emergencies include Gaza, where fighting, damaged infrastructure, and funding shortages hinder food deliveries, and Haiti, where gang violence obstructs aid access. The Democratic Republic of the Congo also faces displacement due to armed group activity, and the war in Ukraine continues to disrupt global food supply chains.

Lindberg also addressed the rising toll of humanitarian workers killed in the line of duty, reporting that over 700 humanitarians have died in recent years. "To me, that's the worst possible outcome. It's really unacceptable," he stated, expressing his commitment to preventing further such tragedies.

Lindberg, who previously served as undersecretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, took the helm of the WFP following the departure of Cindy McCain. He noted that President Donald Trump personally contacted him to offer the nomination, which he saw as a sign of the former president's commitment to humanitarian efforts.

Lindberg succeeds Cindy McCain, with Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau serving as interim director. Lindberg stated his primary mission is to "show up no matter what" and focus on delivering food to those in need, remaining neutral and apolitical.

"To safely and effectively deliver food, and to really stay out of the politics of it, our goal is to feed hungry people."