Officials from United Nations agencies and organizations, along with several international non-governmental organizations, have renewed their urgent calls for the immediate release of staff detained arbitrarily by Houthi authorities in Yemen. This demand comes in a concerning context, as it has been reported that some of the detainees could potentially face “criminal prosecution.”
In a joint statement, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen and the heads of various international organizations such as the United Nations Development Program, UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed their deep concern for the situation of their colleagues. “At a time when we were expecting the release of our colleagues, we are deeply dismayed by this news. The potential filing of ‘charges’ against our colleagues is unacceptable,” they declared.
The statement not only underscored the seriousness of the situation facing the detainees, but also warned of the potential implications of this prosecution for the security of the staff and their families. Six staff members of OHCHR and seven other UN personnel were detained in June. Meanwhile, other colleagues have been deprived of liberty since 2021 and 2023 in conditions of enforced disappearance.
The situation of humanitarian workers in Yemen is critical, with dozens of employees from international NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions being subjected to arbitrary detentions. Humanitarian agencies have pointed out that any repressive action will only hinder their ability to provide assistance to millions of needy Yemenis.
In response to this situation, an urgent call has been made for the persecution against humanitarian workers to cease. “Attacks, including arbitrary detentions, intimidation, and false accusations, must stop, and all detainees must be released immediately,” they emphasized.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains one of the most severe in the world. Years of conflict have left over half of the population in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. It is estimated that 17.6 million people are facing severe hunger, including 2.4 million children under the age of five and 1.2 million pregnant or lactating women suffering from acute malnutrition. Furthermore, the crisis is compounded by outbreaks of deadly diseases and the deterioration of essential services such as health, water, and sanitation. The United Nations and various NGOs are working tirelessly through various channels and governments to ensure the swift release of all detainees in the country.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
