Yemeni Government Denounces Houthi Arrests of UN and NGO Personnel
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Synopsis
Yemen's internationally recognized government has condemned the Houthi arrests of UN and NGO staff, describing it as a severe escalation of the humanitarian crisis. The detentions have prompted the UN to suspend operations in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen, raising alarms over the safety of humanitarian workers.
Key Takeaways
- Yemeni government condemns Houthi arrests.
- 13 UN and NGO staff detained in Sanaa.
- UN suspends operations in northern Yemen.
- Guterres calls detentions unacceptable.
- Ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Aden, Jan 26 (NationPress) Yemen's internationally recognized government has expressed strong condemnation over the detention of 13 staff members from the United Nations (UN) and various international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sanaa, labeling this action as an escalation of the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The foreign ministry stated that these detentions represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and cautioned that they pose a direct risk to the lives and safety of humanitarian workers, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
This condemnation follows a Friday announcement from the UN, which indicated that it would halt all official movements in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen due to these arrests. This suspension came after the Houthi group detained another seven UN staff members.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deemed the ongoing detentions as unacceptable and confirmed that the UN is diligently working to facilitate the release of those held.
Since mid-2023, the Houthis have detained numerous staff members from the UN and other humanitarian organizations. In June 2024, they executed a mass detention of personnel from UN, international, and local aid organizations in Sanaa, alleging they had apprehended key members of an American-Israeli spy network linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency.
The UN has persistently urged for the release of those detained, including during a December 2024 visit to Sanaa by World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who aimed to negotiate their release.
The Houthis have maintained control over Sanaa and much of northern Yemen since late 2014, opposing forces loyal to the Yemeni government. This conflict has resulted in what the UN describes as one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises.
