Houthi rebels have detained 11 UN personnel working in Yemen, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Dujarric confirmed the Yemeni authorities’ report that at least nine staff members are detained, expressing grave concern over the situation. “We are very concerned about these developments, and we’re actively seeking clarification from the Houthi de facto authorities regarding the circumstances of these detentions and, most importantly, to ensure the immediate access to those UN personnel,” he stated. The UN is actively working to secure their release through all available channels.
Nine of the detained employees are men and two are women. Six individuals were employed by the UN’s human rights agencies, including the UN Special Envoy’s Office, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and UNESCO. The detentions form part of a broader Houthi crackdown that has impacted other international aid groups as well.
The Mayyun Organization for Human Rights condemned the actions as violations of international law, describing the detentions as “oppressive” practices aimed at obtaining political and economic gains. Mayyun called for the immediate release of the detainees, stressing the need for compliance with international legal standards.
Other aid organizations, including Save the Children and CARE International, have also reported the detention of their staff members. Save the Children has expressed concern for the safety of their personnel, while CARE International seeks more information about the reasons behind the detentions.
The detentions come as the Houthis face increased economic challenges and retaliatory airstrikes due to their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. They have targeted commercial ships amidst heightened tensions due to the Israel-Hamas war, attracting substantial international attention.
The US Central Command reported that the Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles, resulting in no damage, while US forces intercepted several other threats. Concurrently, new US-led airstrikes have targeted Houthi positions around Hodeida and Sana’a.
Human Rights Watch also criticized the Houthis for failing to reveal the locations of the detainees or allowing them to communicate with their families. Activists and lawyers have initiated an online campaign demanding the immediate release of the detainees, warning that these actions could further isolate Yemen from the international community.
The situation remains fluid as the international community closely monitors developments and urges the Houthis to release the detained UN employees and aid workers to ensure the continuity of critical humanitarian operations in Yemen.