The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has issued a strong call for the immediate and unconditional release of 11 UN staff members detained by Houthi authorities in Yemen.
The detentions, which occurred in raids on UN offices in Sanaa and Hudaydah, have sparked widespread condemnation and concern about the safety of humanitarian workers in the country.
Guterres emphasized that humanitarian workers “should never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their mandates for the benefit of the people they serve.”
He also condemned the forced entry into UN premises and the seizure of property, highlighting the need for respect for international humanitarian law.
The detained staff members work for various UN agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). This incident has raised concerns about the ability of humanitarian organizations to operate effectively in Yemen, where millions of people rely on aid to survive.
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict for over nine years, resulting in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. According to the UN, 4.5 million people remain displaced, and 17.6 million people – half of the population – face food insecurity. The conflict has also led to a significant increase in humanitarian needs, with 19.5 million people requiring some form of aid.
The Houthi authorities have not commented on the detentions, but the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has expressed deep concern about the impact of these actions on humanitarian efforts.
“Despite sustained engagement and assurances sought over the last year, the arbitrary detention of UN staff, NGO workers, and civil society has continued,” Grundberg said. “These actions severely hinder broader efforts to deliver assistance and advance peace in Yemen.”
This is not the first time the Houthis have detained UN staff members. In 2021, the Houthis arrested several UN employees, and some remain in detention to this day.
The UN has repeatedly called for their release, citing concerns about their health and well-being. In February, a WFP staff member died in Houthi custody, sparking widespread outrage and calls for accountability.
The detentions have also raised concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers in Yemen. The UN has suspended all movement in Houthi-held areas of Yemen after a number of its personnel were detained. The latest arrests come amid heightened tension after an Israeli attack killed the Houthi prime minister and other high-ranking officials.
The international community has expressed solidarity with the detained aid workers and called for their immediate release. The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, has also condemned the detentions and emphasized the need for respect for human rights and humanitarian law.
In a statement, Guterres urged all member states to increase pressure on the Houthis to secure the detainees’ release and emphasized that the UN will pursue every available channel to achieve that goal.
The UN’s top relief official, Martin Griffiths, has also expressed concern about the impact of the detentions on humanitarian efforts in Yemen.
The situation in Yemen remains dire, with millions of people relying on aid to survive. The release of the detained aid workers is crucial to ensuring the continuation of humanitarian efforts in the country.
The international community must continue to pressure the Houthis to respect humanitarian law and ensure the safety of aid workers.