Yemen’s capital Sanaa. UN Secretary-General demands Yemeni Houthis release UN and NGO staff Peace and Security
The UN Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the situation of United Nations personnel, civil society members, non-governmental organizations and diplomatic missions arbitrarily detained by the Houthis in Yemen for more than two months and demands their immediate and unconditional release, according to a statement released Monday by UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen is dire, the UN chief recalled: more than 18 million people are suffering from food insecurity, epidemics, displacement, destroyed infrastructure and a shattered economy.
“The United Nations is working tirelessly to address the impact of the current situation for the people of Yemen,” the statement said, “but the safety of our staff must be ensured. The UN and its partners must not be attacked, arrested or detained while carrying out their mandates.”
In early June, the Houthis detained 13 UN staff, including six employees of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as well as more than 50 employees of non-governmental organizations. Two more OHCHR and UNESCO employees were detained in November 2021 and August 2023, respectively. All those arrested are being held incommunicado.
On August 3, the Houthis, who are the de facto authorities in the capital and northern regions of Yemen, occupied the OHCHR office in Sanaa and forced its staff to hand over documents, furniture, vehicles, and keys to the premises. The office was returned to OHCHR only on August 19, as also stated in today’s statement by the UN Secretary-General.
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