United Nations, Dec 7: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the urgent and unconditional release of more than 50 humanitarian personnel detained by the Houthis in Yemen, along with four other UN staff members who have been in detention since 2021 and 2023.
According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the detentions, which have lasted over six months, include personnel from the United Nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, and diplomatic missions. While one UN staff member and two NGO workers were recently released, the Secretary-General emphasized that the ongoing detentions are a clear violation of international law.
Impact on Humanitarian Efforts
The UN statement highlighted:
The detentions endanger the safety of humanitarian personnel.
These actions severely hinder efforts to assist millions of Yemenis in need.
Such conduct undermines genuine engagement in peace processes.
The United Nations and its partners are actively engaging with all possible channels and authorities to secure the release of those arbitrarily detained.
Yemen remains in dire need of humanitarian support, and the detentions pose significant challenges to delivering aid to the most vulnerable populations in the region.