UN Chief Condemns Houthi Detention of Aid Workers in Yemen

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the "arbitrary" detention of UN personnel by Yemen's Houthi rebels, denouncing the practice that has occurred over recent years. His deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, stated that Guterres reiterates his condemnation of the "arbitrary detention of dozens of members of the United Nations, NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions by the de facto Houthi authorities in June 2024."

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Guterres reiterates his condemnation of the arbitrary detention of dozens of members of the United Nations, NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions by the de facto Houthi authorities in June 2024.

The condemnation also extends to arrests of UN workers in 2021, 2023, and 2025. Guterres called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of all detained individuals. In total, 73 UN personnel are reported to be arbitrarily detained, with some held incommunicado. Tragically, one individual has died during their detention.

"These actions violate international law, cause profound suffering to families, and have severely limited the capacity of the United Nations and its partners precisely when millions of people are in need across Yemen," Haq stated. The spokesperson reminded that UN workers enjoy judicial immunity for acts performed in their official capacity. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration with the de facto Houthi authorities to secure the release of detained staff and resume humanitarian and development activities.

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These actions violate international law, cause profound suffering to families, and have severely limited the capacity of the United Nations and its partners precisely when millions of people are in need across Yemen.

Guterres expressed solidarity with the affected individuals and their families, reiterating that humanitarian workers should never be targeted or detained for their vital work. This statement follows calls from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, which demanded the immediate release of detained UN and other organizational employees by the Houthis. The NGOs warned that such arbitrary detentions directly impact the delivery of life-saving assistance to those in urgent need.

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humanitarian workers never must be object of attacks nor detained for carrying out the vital labor that they perform.