The internationally recognized Yemeni government on Thursday, July 11, 2024, approved a number of incentives aimed at facilitating the relocation of UN and international organizations to Aden, the temporary capital of Yemen. The government stated that these measures are "necessary to ensure the transfer of UN and international organizations to the city of Aden, declared as the temporary capital of Yemen, to serve all citizens throughout the country."

The decision was made during a meeting in Aden, chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak. The meeting was dedicated to evaluating the progress of humanitarian and development interventions by UN and international agencies, and the measures taken to facilitate the completion of the relocation of organization headquarters to Aden, enabling them to carry out their duties without obstacles or restrictions.

According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, the government meeting approved a number of "decisions and measures to address recent developments in the relief and humanitarian aspects, including Houthi violations against UN and international organizations and their staff."

The meeting considered the Houthis' abduction of dozens of UN agency staff, and international and local non-governmental organizations operating in Yemen, as a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."

It stated that this constitutes a "direct threat to the lives, security, and safety of these employees," emphasizing the government's "legal, ethical, and humanitarian responsibility to protect citizens in areas controlled by the Houthi group, which is internationally listed as a terrorist organization."

The meeting discussed a report on the government's plans to correct the course of humanitarian and development work by donors in Yemen, including a "comprehensive presentation of Houthi violations and practices against UN and development organizations, and the diversion of donor funds for their benefit."

According to the official agency, the meeting warned of the dangers of ignoring Houthi violations and the extortion and pressure tactics used by the group against humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen. These tactics aim to serve the group's political agenda, exploit humanitarian aid for its security and military objectives, and transform areas under its control into prisons for anyone who opposes its policies.

The meeting stressed the need for urgent action to pressure the Houthis to ensure the safety of abducted UN staff, international agencies, and civil society organizations, and to release them immediately and unconditionally.

Since the beginning of June, the Houthi group, internationally listed as a terrorist organization, has been conducting a continuous campaign of arrests targeting dozens of employees of UN agencies, international organizations, and foreign embassies in Sana'a.

On June 24, 2024, Human Rights and Legal Affairs Minister Ahmed Arman stated that the number of detainees exceeded 70, confirming that they included employees of UN agencies, and international and local organizations, including five women.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government often raises its call for UN agencies and international organizations to relocate their main headquarters to Aden, the declared temporary capital of Yemen, especially with the increasing arrests of relief and humanitarian workers in Sana'a and areas under Houthi control.