Yemen’s Houthi authorities have detained nine additional United Nations staff, raising the total of arbitrarily detained UN personnel to 53 since 2021, announced UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Monday.
“The Secretary-General strongly denounces the ongoing arbitrary detentions of its staff and partners, along with the unlawful seizure of UN facilities and assets in Houthi-controlled regions,” stated Dujarric.
Dujarric did not reveal the timing or details of the recent detentions.
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In August, the group stormed UN facilities in Sanaa, detaining at least 18 UN staff after an Israeli strike killed the Houthi government’s prime minister and several ministers.
Houthi officials claim that UN personnel’s legal protections should not cover espionage, accusing the UN of bias for condemning their “legal actions against spy networks” while not addressing the Israeli attack.
“The Secretary-General urgently calls again for the immediate and unconditional release of all staff… They must be respected and protected under relevant international law,” Dujarric emphasized.
