The internationally recognized Yemeni government on Saturday, June 8th, 2024, condemned the abduction of dozens of United Nations and international non-governmental organization staff in Sana'a by the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries. The government called for the UN and all international agencies to relocate their headquarters to Aden.

In a statement released by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the Foreign Ministry labeled the Houthis' actions a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law" and a threat to the lives and safety of the abducted staff.

The statement highlighted that the government had repeatedly warned about the dangers of ignoring Houthi violations and their tactics of extortion and pressure exerted on humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen.

The government accused the Houthis of using these actions to advance their illegal political agenda, exploit humanitarian aid for their own military and security goals, and transform areas under their control into large prisons for anyone opposing their policies.

The ministry reiterated its call for the UN and all international agencies to relocate their headquarters to the temporary capital, Aden. The relocation, according to the statement, would ensure a safe and conducive environment for these organizations to operate and deliver humanitarian services to all Yemenis in all regions without discrimination or obstacles.

On Friday, June 7th, 2024, the UN confirmed that 11 of its staff members were detained by the Houthis, stating that it was doing everything in its power to secure their unconditional release.

Earlier on Friday, the Yemeni government and local sources reported that the Houthis had conducted a large-scale arrest campaign targeting approximately 20 staff members of international and UN agencies in Sana'a.

The detained staff members work for organizations including UNICEF, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Food Programme, the Office of the UN Envoy, the Response for Relief and Development (RRD), the Social Fund for Development, the American Institute NDI, and an employee working for the Office of the Special UN Envoy.

For the past three years, the Houthis have held approximately 20 Yemeni employees of the US embassy in Sana'a, which ceased operations in 2014. The group previously detained four other UN staff members, two in 2021 and two in 2023, who remain in their custody, according to the Associated Press.