UN Urges Houthis to Free Detained Aid Workers
Sana’a, Yemen: Heads of United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) today renewed their urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of dozens of humanitarian workers arbitrarily detained by Houthi de facto authorities in northern Yemen.
This week marks one year since the detention of personnel from the UN, NGOs, civil society organisations, and diplomatic missions began, with some individuals held since 2021.
As of today, 23 UN staff and five INGO personnel remain in detention. At least one UN staff member and a Save the Children worker have died while detained, and others have been unable to attend family funerals or contact loved ones. The prolonged isolation, lasting at least 365 days for some and over 1,000 days for others, has caused immense suffering for the detainees and their families, who face another Eid without them.
The detained workers were providing critical aid in Yemen, one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, where over 19 million people depend on assistance for survival. Their detention violates international law and jeopardises efforts to deliver food, shelter, and healthcare to those in need.
The UN and INGOs warn that these detentions create a chilling effect, undermining humanitarian operations and mediation efforts for peace in Yemen.
While the release of one UN staff member, two NGO workers, and a diplomat has been noted, the signatories—including UN leaders like Achim Steiner (United Nations Development Programme), Audrey Azoulay (UNESCO), and Dr Tedros Adhenom Ghebreyesus (World Health Organization), alongside INGO heads like Inger Ashing (Save the Children)—today urged the Houthis to honour commitments made during the WHO Director-General’s December 2024 visit to Sana’a.
The UN and INGOs vowed to continue pursuing all channels to secure the safe release of their colleagues.
The ongoing crisis highlights the need for a safe operating environment to sustain humanitarian efforts in Yemen, with the detained workers’ freedom being a critical step toward restoring aid and hope to millions, they stated.
– global bihari bureau
