The European Union (EU) has condemned the continued detention of 13 UN staff members by the Houthi militia, warning that the prolonged captivity, now exceeding 90 days, is severely hindering international efforts to provide aid to millions of Yemenis in urgent need.

In a statement released on Thursday, September 5th, 2024, monitored by "Barran Press", the EU delegation in Yemen expressed deep concern over the arbitrary detention of UN staff, along with personnel from international and local NGOs, and diplomatic missions. The statement, shared on the X platform, called for the immediate release of the detained individuals.

The EU delegation reiterated its full support for the repeated international calls by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for the unconditional release of the detained staff.

The statement comes after the UN Human Rights Office renewed its call for the release of 17 UN staff held in Sana'a, including the 13 detained in early June and four others held between 2021 and 2023.

In June, the UN Secretary-General demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff detained in Yemen by the Houthi de facto authorities. The Houthis have denied any involvement in the detentions, claiming that the individuals are accused of espionage for the United States.

On June 6th and 7th, the Iranian-backed Houthi militia, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, arrested 13 UN staff members, including six from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with over 50 NGO staff and a staff member from the embassy.