The Charity Commission for England and Wales has issued an official regulatory warning to Save the Children over governance failures and misconduct that endangered staff at its Yemen office. The warning concludes a two-year investigation triggered by the death of Hisham al-Hakimi, the charity's safety and security director, who died in detention by Yemeni authorities in October 2023.
The commission found that weak governance left staff at the Yemen office inadequately protected despite what it identified as an active security threat. Incidents of poor conduct by personnel went unaddressed, and local management failed to properly assess and escalate complaints and reports submitted by whistleblowers. The warning letter specifically cites "substantial policy breaches and a lack of accountability" within the operation.
According to an independent investigation published in March 2025, al-Hakimi had warned colleagues in late August 2023 that he faced detention risk. He was arrested in early September by Ansar Allah and died in Houthi custody in late October 2023, with no official explanation released by either the organisation or the Houthis more than 16 months after his death.
What did the internal investigation reveal?
An internal Save the Children inquiry conducted in 2024 following al-Hakimi's death identified a "negative working culture" within the Yemen office that had rendered staff "disillusioned and marginalised". The charity subsequently apologised to its personnel, acknowledging it had failed to adequately recognise and respond to the escalating security risks they faced as conditions deteriorated across the country.
What changes has the charity made?
Save the Children International stated that since 2024, it has implemented substantial reforms under new leadership in Yemen aimed at strengthening oversight, enhancing staff support, and restoring confidence. The organisation has shut its north Yemen office due to security concerns. The charity has also introduced detention risk assessments, enhanced incident management procedures, and reinforced crisis management protocols.
The commission ordered Save the Children International to guarantee that adequate resources are allocated to safeguard and protect staff and other individuals engaged with the organisation. Stephen Roake, assistant director for high-risk compliance at the commission, stated: "It can be incredibly difficult for charities operating in high-risk, volatile environments and we know that circumstances can change rapidly. However, it is for this very reason that trustees must ensure they have sufficient oversight of their overseas operations."
Save the Children International acknowledged the commission's findings regarding serious deficiencies in governance, management, oversight and adherence to policies and procedures at the Yemen office during the period in question. In its response, the charity stated:
We remain committed to learning from this tragedy and ensuring a safe, supportive environment for our colleagues. We will continue to work closely with the Charity Commission to address any outstanding matters, while continuing to support our colleagues in Yemen and deliver for children in extremely challenging contexts.
What is the scale of Yemen's humanitarian emergency?
Save the Children's operations in Yemen address a dire humanitarian situation marked by intensifying conflict, collapsing health infrastructure, and disease outbreaks. According to the charity's 15 September 2026 Yemen update, at least 19 children were killed and 49 injured between 1 August and 9 September, representing part of a broader toll of 117 civilians killed and 206 injured during that 40-day period. The same update documented 175 casualties in a single week from 3 to 9 September, including 43 children—the highest weekly child casualty toll recorded in the preceding 12 months.
More than 1,000 people have been killed or wounded, and tens of thousands displaced by ongoing conflict between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. The charity has been delivering emergency medical assistance, shelter, and clean drinking water to displaced families throughout the country.
What are regulatory warnings and how common are they?
Regulatory warnings are issued relatively infrequently by the Charity Commission and are deployed when the regulator determines that breaches of trust or mismanagement within a charity have jeopardised the safety of its staff or beneficiaries. Such warnings may be issued where charity trustees are judged to have acted recklessly or without appropriate diligence. The issuance of a formal warning represents a significant regulatory intervention and signals serious governance concerns.
What is the current status of operations?
Save the Children suspended operations in northern Yemen immediately following al-Hakimi's death in detention, though its southern Yemen projects continued uninterrupted. According to the organisation's public notice last updated on 22 September 2026, operations have since resumed following a 10-day suspension. Another Save the Children staff member is understood to currently remain in detention.
The detention of humanitarian workers in Yemen extends beyond Save the Children. According to reporting from February 2026, the United Nations had 73 staff members arbitrarily detained by the Houthis, with some held since 2021, highlighting the broader risks faced by international personnel operating in the country.
Key Facts
- The Charity Commission concluded a two-year investigation into Save the Children's Yemen office following the death of safety and security director Hisham al-Hakimi in October 2023
- The warning cites weak governance, substantial policy breaches, lack of accountability, and failure to properly escalate whistleblower complaints
- An internal 2024 investigation found a negative working culture that left staff disillusioned and marginalised
- Save the Children has implemented new leadership, detention risk assessments, and enhanced crisis management procedures since 2024
- Yemen faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis with at least 19 children killed and 49 injured in the 40 days to 9 September 2026 alone
