UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate and unconditional release of 11 UN staff arrested by Houthi authorities in Yemen.
The workers were detained by security forces in raids on the World Food Programme (WFP), children's charity Unicef, and the World Health Organization (WHO), news agencies and the UN said.
Sunday's raids took place in the capital, Sanaa, and port city of Hudaydah, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said.
Grundberg noted that the Houthis had already been holding 23 other UN workers arrested since 2021. Houthi authorities have not commented on Sunday's arrests.
In a statement on Sunday, Guterres expressed strong condemnation for the arbitrary detentions of at least 11 UN personnel by the Houthis. He also denounced the forced entry into WFP and other UN premises and the seizure of property.
It remains unclear why the Houthis targeted UN workers, especially as the organization's personnel have been crucial in providing aid to Yemenis suffering from one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
One of those previously arrested died in detention this year, according to Grundberg. The Houthis have also detained nearly 20 Yemeni employees of the US embassy over the past three years.
Despite sustained engagement and assurances sought over the last year, the arbitrary detention of UN staff, NGO workers, and civil society has continued, said Grundberg. These actions severely hinder broader efforts to deliver assistance and advance peace in Yemen.
Earlier this year, the UN suspended all movement in Houthi-held areas of Yemen following the detention of several personnel.
The recent arrests come amid heightened tensions after an Israeli attack that killed the Houthi prime minister and other high-ranking officials, marking a significant escalation in regional conflicts as the Houthis respond to Israeli actions in support of Palestine.
The Iran-backed group has maintained control over Yemen’s capital and northwest regions since ousting the internationally recognized government in 2015, during a civil war that has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and left millions in need of aid.
