Barran Press
The internationally recognized Yemeni government on Thursday, August 15, 2024, condemned the Houthi militia's raid on the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the capital Sana'a, where they seized documents and property.
A brief statement published on the Yemeni Foreign Ministry's X account, seen by "Barran Press," stated that the Houthi raid on the UN office is a continuation of their "systematic attacks" against organizations and their personnel.
The Foreign Ministry statement reiterated the importance of "relocating the UN office, as well as all international organizations, to the city of Aden, declared the temporary capital of Yemen, as soon as possible, so that they can carry out their assigned tasks away from Houthi threats and ensure the continuation of their work and the safety and security of their staff."
The statement called on the international community to exert maximum pressure on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all personnel of international organizations and humanitarian workers facing inhumane detention conditions, holding the Houthis fully responsible for the lives and safety of all detainees.
Earlier today, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, considered the Houthi militia's closure of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights office in Sana'a a blatant violation of UN privileges and immunities.
This came in his monthly briefing to the UN Security Council on the latest developments and peace efforts in Yemen, according to the UN News website.
Grundberg said that the Houthis' recent actions constitute a serious attack on the UN's ability to carry out its mandate, adding that "the protection of human rights is at the heart of protecting the future of Yemen and the rights and freedoms of Yemenis."
Last Tuesday, August 13, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, revealed the Houthi raid on his office in Sana'a, expressing his condemnation of the raid and reiterating his call for the "immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN personnel in Yemen."
The High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement published on the UN Human Rights Office website and translated into Arabic by "Barran Press" that "entering the UN office without authorization and seizing documents and property by force is a complete violation of UN privileges and immunities."
He considered this also a "serious attack on the UN's ability to carry out its mandate, including with regard to promoting and protecting human rights, which my office is present to defend."
The High Commissioner stressed in his statement that the Houthis "must leave the premises and return all property and assets immediately."
The statement said that "on June 6 and 7, the Houthi authorities arrested 13 UN staff members, including six staff members from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in addition to over 50 staff members from non-governmental organizations and one staff member from the embassy."