Barran Press
A government meeting in Aden, Yemen's temporary capital, on Thursday, July 4th, focused on security measures for UN agencies and their staff in the city, amidst a wave of arrests of aid workers in Houthi-controlled areas.
The meeting, attended by Aden's local council secretary-general Bader Ma'awan and UN Security and Safety Officer Brestilla Sadacchi, addressed efforts to ensure the safety of international delegations and UN agency offices in Aden.
According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, Ma'awan emphasized the stability of the security situation in Aden, stating that local and security authorities maintain constant communication and coordination with all international organizations, including the UN Security and Safety Office.
The meeting discussed security and safety measures for protecting UN headquarters in Aden, including ways to enhance security operations, stabilize the entire governorate, and meet all security needs. The participants stressed the importance of raising security preparedness to the highest levels, particularly at locations and facilities of international organizations and UN offices, considering them a "red line" that cannot be crossed.
The meeting comes as the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, continues a crackdown on aid workers and international agencies in areas under their control. Since late May, dozens of employees of UN agencies, international organizations, and foreign embassies in Sana'a have been detained.
On June 24th, Human Rights and Legal Affairs Minister Ahmed Erman stated that the number of detainees had exceeded 70, including employees of UN agencies, international and local organizations, and five women.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government has repeatedly urged UN agencies to relocate their main offices to Aden, citing the increasing arrests of aid and humanitarian workers in Sana'a and Houthi-controlled areas.
In previous statements, Yemen's Ministry of Planning reported that 122 international organizations, including 107 that have opened offices in Aden, are operating in Yemen. The ministry added that the UN Development Office and its affiliated agencies have moved their main offices to Aden and established offices in liberated areas to oversee the implementation of humanitarian and development projects.