Houthis Detain 53 UN Staff Since 2021 Amid Yemen Conflict

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the recent detention of nine additional UN staff members by Yemen's Houthi authorities, increasing the total number of arbitrarily detained UN personnel to 53 since 2021. These detentions, along with the unlawful seizure of UN premises and assets in Houthi-controlled areas, severely hinder the UN's ability to operate and deliver critical aid in Yemen. The Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which controls the capital Sanaa, has escalated tensions following an Israeli strike that killed the Houthi prime minister and ministers, after which the group raided UN offices. The Houthis accuse the UN of espionage and bias, while the UN insists on the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel, emphasizing respect for international law and protection of humanitarian workers. The conflict in Yemen remains deeply divided between the Houthi administration in Sanaa and the Saudi-backed government in Aden, contributing to the precarious security situation for UN staff. The Secretary-General continues to call urgently for the safety and release of all detained staff to uphold humanitarian operations in the region.