In a joint statement released on Saturday, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have urgently called for the release of humanitarian personnel detained in Yemen. The appeal is directed at the Houthis, amid escalating concerns over the criminal prosecution of aid workers in the war-torn region.
The statement emphasized the adverse conditions faced by these workers, including arbitrary detention, intimidation, mistreatment, and the levelling of unfounded charges. Many of the detained staff members have reportedly been held incommunicado, complicating the efforts of their respective agencies to assist or even communicate with them.
Save the Children, Oxfam, and CARE International had previously reported that at least 18 humanitarian workers, including 13 from various UN agencies, were detained in Yemen as of June. According to the United Nations, such practices have been ongoing since 2021, critically undermining the operations of humanitarian agencies in the country.
The conflict between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, which has persisted since 2015, has generated severe humanitarian challenges. Reports indicate that 4.5 million people have been displaced, and 18.2 million individuals are in dire need of aid. The worsening situation is detailed in a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Under international law, specifically Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, humanitarian workers and medical personnel are entitled to protection and freedom of movement. Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions further mandates the protection of relief consignments and personnel, underscoring the legal framework supporting the calls for the aid workers’ release.