Yemen: Houthi Rebels Release 153 Detainees with ICRC Assistance

Geneva/Sanaa, Jan 25 (NationPress) The Houthi rebel faction in Yemen announced on Saturday the unilateral release of 153 war prisoners who had been detained during the civil conflict with Yemeni government forces over the past few years, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

This release of detainees, related to the ongoing conflict, took place in Sanaa and was facilitated by an ICRC team following a request from the National Committee for Prisoners Affairs. The individuals released had been among those receiving regular visits from the ICRC in Sanaa, part of its efforts to ensure humane treatment and conditions for all detainees linked to the conflict.

Christine Cipolla, the ICRC's head of delegation in Yemen, stated, "This operation has brought much-needed relief and joy to families who have been anxiously waiting for the return of their loved ones. We understand that many other families are also waiting for their chance to be reunited. We hope that today's release will lead to many more moments like this."

As per its standard procedures, the ICRC conducted private pre-departure interviews with the detainees to verify their identities, inform their families about their upcoming release, and provide assistance for a dignified return to their homes.

Before the release, ICRC medical personnel evaluated the health status of the detainees, ensured their fitness for road travel, and arranged individual travel plans for those needing additional support.

Alessia Bertelli, head of the ICRC's protection department in Yemen, added, "As with every release operation that the ICRC is part of in Yemen, we hold confidential conversations with all detainees to listen to any concerns they may have about the process, to ensure they have been in contact with their families, and to gather the necessary information to follow up on their condition if needed in the coming weeks."

The ICRC noted that it welcomes this unilateral release as a significant step toward revitalizing negotiations under the Stockholm Agreement.

The ICRC expressed its readiness to serve as a neutral intermediary in facilitating the release, transfer, and repatriation of individuals held in relation to the conflict in Yemen, as it did in 2020 and 2023, whenever the parties to the Stockholm Agreement decide to pursue such initiatives again.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial, and independent organization with a strictly humanitarian mandate derived from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It assists individuals globally affected by armed conflicts and other forms of violence, striving to protect their lives and dignity while alleviating their suffering, often in collaboration with its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners.