Washington/New York/Geneva: Five nations, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have condemned “in the strongest terms” the recent detentions by the Houthis of United Nations, diplomatic, and non-governmental organization staff.
At least 17 members of UN entities and international non-governmental organisations and many others associated with civil society organisations, national and international NGOs, and other organizations supporting humanitarian activities have been detained by the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen.
Reiterating their support to the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for the immediate release of all United Nations staff held in Yemen by the Houthis, these five nations demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained. They urged the Houthis to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian, diplomatic, and United Nations personnel.
“These detentions represent an escalation by the Houthis and jeopardize a sensitive peace process. They are an affront to international peace and security. All detainees should be released immediately,” these five nations said in a joint statement, which added, “We also reaffirm our strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen, and our commitment to stand by the people of Yemen”.
On June 13, 2024, nine top officials of the United Nations and other international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all the detained personnel held in Yemen by the Houthi de facto authorities.
“These detentions are unprecedented – not only in Yemen but globally – and directly impede our ability to reach the most vulnerable people in Yemen, including the 18.2 million people who need humanitarian aid and protection,” said a joint statement signed by Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP), Amitabh Behar, Executive Director (interim), Oxfam International, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCO, Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF, Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme, Inger Ashing, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children International, Michelle Nunn, President and CEO, CARE, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization, and Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR.
They asked the de facto authorities to confirm the exact whereabouts of those detained and the conditions in which they are being held. They also demanded immediate access to them.
“The targeting of humanitarian, human rights, and development workers in Yemen must stop. All those detained must be immediately released,” they stated and reminded the Houthis that international law prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of liberty. “International Humanitarian Law requires all parties to armed conflict to respect and protect humanitarian personnel, including against harassment, mistreatment, and unlawful arrest or detention,” they stated.
Earlier on June 13 morning, briefing the Security Council members by video teleconference, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, urged the Houthis to respect the rights of Yemenis under international law and release all UN and non-governmental personnel immediately and unconditionally and to refrain from the arbitrary detention of civilians.
Grundberg noted that ever since the escalation in the Red Sea, he has aimed to make sure that no one loses sight of the ultimate objective: a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Yemen. However, he added, instead of making tangible progress towards protecting commitments made and finalizing of the road map, the parties have reverted to a zero-sum game. Instead of putting the Yemenis first, they have opted for measures they believe will strengthen their own position.
Also, briefing Council members, Edem Wosornu, the Director of Operations and Advocacy in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, pointed out that in recent weeks, both the Houthis and the Government of Yemen have issued competing and increasingly stringent directives banning individuals, businesses, and local and international financial institutions from dealing with banks based in areas controlled by the other party.
She warned that these developments and detentions have potentially catastrophic ramifications, including serious repercussions for humanitarian relief operations.
– global bihari bureau
