Barran Press
On Friday, December 6, 2024, the United Nations renewed its call for the "immediate and unconditional" release of humanitarian workers arbitrarily detained by the Houthi movement, which is classified as a terrorist organization.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement released by the UN envoy to Yemen, noted that it has been six months since more than 50 UN and non-governmental organization employees were taken hostage, in addition to four UN staff members detained since 2021 and 2023.
Despite the recent release of one UN employee and two NGO workers, the Secretary-General emphasized that the ongoing arbitrary detention of dozens of others constitutes a violation of international law and is unacceptable.
Dujarric pointed out that these detentions threaten the safety of humanitarian workers and severely hinder efforts to assist millions in need, undermining genuine participation in peace efforts.
The UN and its partners are working through all available channels to secure the immediate release of those unlawfully detained.
In June, the Iran-backed Houthi group launched a wave of arrests involving 13 Yemeni employees from UN agencies and dozens of staff from international and local humanitarian organizations, with reports indicating that around 70 individuals were detained.
The group has consistently accused detainees from UN and international organizations of "espionage" for the United States, coercing confessions to implicate the detainees and broadcasting these admissions through its media outlets.