A joint statement issued by 40 nations on Thursday, June 13th, 2024, strongly condemned the detention of United Nations and international agency staff, non-governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions working in the Yemeni capital Sana'a by the Houthi group.

The statement, delivered by the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Barbara Woodward, before a UN Security Council meeting on Yemen, called for the "immediate and unconditional release of all detainees." It urged the Houthis to "ensure the safety and security of humanitarian and UN personnel."

The statement expressed "grave concern" over the "rapid and significant deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen," emphasizing that "it is essential for humanitarian actors to be able to access the civilian population without obstruction."

The 40 nations also voiced "deep concern" about the risks to the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, reiterating their call for "respect for international humanitarian law regarding safe, rapid, and unhindered access for all humanitarian actors to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable people in Yemen."

The statement reaffirmed the 40 nations' "firm commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen, and to stand with the Yemeni people."

The joint statement was delivered by Ambassador Woodward on behalf of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Yemen, and the United Kingdom.

Since last Thursday, June 7th, the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, has launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting international and UN staff working in Sana'a and areas under their control.

116 local organizations stated that the Houthi group "conducted a synchronized armed campaign in areas under their control (Sana'a, Hodeidah, Saada, and Amran) targeting Yemeni staff working for the UN and international organizations on Thursday and Friday (June 6th-7th, 2024)."

The organizations, in a joint statement seen by "Barran Press," explained that the number of abductees reached "50 staff members from international organizations, UN agencies, and civil society organizations."

On Monday, June 10th, 2024, the Houthi group announced the apprehension of what they described as a "US-Israeli espionage network carrying out espionage and subversive roles in Yemen for decades," days after arresting dozens of UN and international agency staff.

On Sunday, June 9th, informed sources in Sana'a, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told "Barran Press" that the group had forced the UN and international agency staff they arrested in recent days to make fabricated confessions under torture, claiming their "affiliation with a Washington- and Israel-linked intelligence agency."