Barran Press
The Prime Minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government, Ahmed bin Mubarak, has accused the Houthi rebels of endangering the lives of dozens of UN and international organization workers by abducting them. In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday, July 18, 2024, bin Mubarak expressed his deep concern over the escalating situation.
The Yemeni news agency Saba reported that bin Mubarak highlighted the "violations committed by the Houthi militia against humanitarian work and UN workers." He stated that the measures taken by the UN offices in Yemen to protect their staff and ensure their safety have been "unacceptable and inadequate," failing to meet the level of threat posed to their lives and freedom.
Bin Mubarak urged the UN to fulfill its humanitarian duty by protecting local UN workers, securing the release of those abducted, and suspending the travel of the humanitarian coordinator, UN representatives, and key staff to Sana'a. He also proposed relocating the administrative and technical functions of major organizations to the temporary capital of Aden to reduce pressure on the UN by the Houthis.
The Prime Minister called on international organizations to implement technical and administrative measures to safeguard their databases and communications, preventing the Houthis from accessing, manipulating, and misusing this information to harm staff, beneficiaries, and justify abductions.
Furthermore, bin Mubarak advocated for an immediate and impartial assessment of humanitarian and development activities carried out by UN organizations in Houthi-controlled areas. This assessment aims to ensure the integrity of these projects and their alignment with their objectives, as the Houthis have restricted the ability of organizations to monitor and evaluate their work.
He emphasized the need to evaluate the impact of Houthi practices on the future and fairness of these projects, preventing them from becoming tools for the militia to support their war efforts and increase recruitment, particularly of children and adolescents.
Bin Mubarak also stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of workers, guaranteeing fair employment practices amid growing concerns about the Houthis imposing their supporters on international organizations.
He reiterated the government's commitment and responsibility to protect its citizens and provide them with humanitarian and development support across the country.
Expressing gratitude for the significant role played by UN and international organizations in supporting Yemen, bin Mubarak urged them to exert every effort to stop the Houthis' interference in the work of organizations and their exploitation of humanitarian aid for their own interests. He condemned their attempts to tighten their grip on the lives of Yemenis, violating their freedoms and rights, terrorizing them, and putting their lives, particularly those of workers, at risk.
The Prime Minister expressed his hope to work with the UN to implement concrete and urgent measures to pressure the Houthis to release the abducted workers and prevent further threats against them. He also called for joint efforts to improve humanitarian and development work conditions in Yemen and protect those involved.
Highlighting the severity of the risks faced by these workers, bin Mubarak noted cases of death due to torture, including that of Hesham Al-Hakimi, a Save the Children employee who died shortly after his arrest in Houthi prisons.
The Houthis, designated as a terrorist group by several countries, launched a widespread campaign of arrests against international and UN organization staff in Sana'a and areas under their control in early June.
On June 24, 2024, Ahmed Arman, the Minister of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, accused the Houthis of continuing their campaign of arrests against aid workers from international, UN, and local organizations in Sana'a. He stated that the number of detainees exceeded 70, including staff from UN agencies, international and local organizations, among them five women.
On July 12, 2024, the UN announced that it was working through all available channels to secure the "immediate and unconditional release" of its staff arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated during a daily press briefing at UN headquarters that "it has been over a month since most of them were arbitrarily detained," adding that "four of our colleagues in the UN have been detained since 2021."
The UN official called on the Houthis to "immediately and unconditionally release them all," demanding that they be treated with full respect for their human rights and allowed to contact their families and legal representatives.