UN chief renews call for immediate release of humanitarian personnel in Yemen

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday reiterated his call for an immediate release of all UN aid staff held by Yemen’s Houthi group.

"The Secretary-General renews his call for the immediate and unconditional release of the humanitarian personnel arbitrarily detained by the Houthis," according to a statement released by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

In the statement, Guterres highlighted that more than 50 personnel from the UN, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and diplomatic missions have been detained for over six months. Also, four UN staff members remain in custody after being detained in 2021 and 2023.

He acknowledged the recent release of one UN staff member and two NGO personnel, while describing the continued detention of others as "unacceptable" and "a violation of international law."

"These detentions threaten the safety of humanitarian personnel and significantly impair efforts to assist millions of people in need. These actions are inconsistent with genuine engagement in peace efforts," he said.

The UN chief affirmed that the UN, along with NGOs and other partners, is engaging through various channels to secure the release of the detained personnel and ensure the protection of humanitarian workers.

On May 10, Houthis claimed they had "uncovered an American-Israeli espionage cell in official and unofficial institutions in Yemen."

The group then broadcast a video of Yemenis purportedly confessing to espionage activities in Yemen.

"The UN employees proven clear of charges related to a US and Israel spy network and will be released," Abdulaziz bin Habtour, head of the Houthi government​​​​​​​, said in the announcement.

Yemen has been beset by violence and chaos since 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. The crisis escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.

Tens of thousands of Yemenis, including numerous civilians, are believed to have been killed in the conflict, while 14 million are at risk of starvation, according to the UN.