UN Envoy Condemns Prolonged Detention of Aid Workers in Yemen
Dozens of UN and NGO personnel remain arbitrarily held by Houthi rebels, prompting calls for immediate action from the international community.
The UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, condemned the prolonged arbitrary detention of numerous UN staff, NGO workers, civil society members, and diplomatic personnel by the Houthi rebels during a briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday.
This detention, described as 'shameful,' includes individuals who have reportedly been imprisoned since 2021, with new arrests reported in the current year.
As of the latest updates, 23 UN personnel and five international aid workers remain in detention.
Grundberg emphasized the need for their immediate and unconditional release while pledging to advocate for their freedom at every opportunity.
He made a personal commitment to support the families of detainees, including the family of one detained UN staff member who has been held for more than a year.
His remarks were directed not only to the families of those imprisoned but also to the members of the Security Council.
He encouraged them to leverage their influence to persuade the Houthis to release all detainees.
The Houthi group, which wields control over significant parts of western Yemen, has yet to publicly address these accusations.
The ongoing detentions have sparked considerable criticism from human rights organizations, which assert that the Houthis are obstructing humanitarian efforts and specifically targeting aid workers in the context of Yemen's extended conflict, now nearing a decade.
In a separate address at the UN Security Council meeting, US acting deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea highlighted the responsibility of the Houthis for the worsening safety and well-being of the Yemeni populace.
She claimed that the group is terrorizing local communities, hindering the operations of humanitarian organizations, and exploiting civilians through predatory financial practices.
Shea noted that the Houthis profit from petroleum imports and engage in harassment against civil society activists.
Furthermore, Shea criticized the Houthis for allegedly coercing detainees into providing false confessions for propaganda purposes in videos produced last summer, warning that a climate of bogus trials and potential death sentences looms over those detained.
She joined calls for the Houthis to release all individuals currently in custody, expressing concern that their actions threaten regional stability on a near-daily basis.
This detention, described as 'shameful,' includes individuals who have reportedly been imprisoned since 2021, with new arrests reported in the current year.
As of the latest updates, 23 UN personnel and five international aid workers remain in detention.
Grundberg emphasized the need for their immediate and unconditional release while pledging to advocate for their freedom at every opportunity.
He made a personal commitment to support the families of detainees, including the family of one detained UN staff member who has been held for more than a year.
His remarks were directed not only to the families of those imprisoned but also to the members of the Security Council.
He encouraged them to leverage their influence to persuade the Houthis to release all detainees.
The Houthi group, which wields control over significant parts of western Yemen, has yet to publicly address these accusations.
The ongoing detentions have sparked considerable criticism from human rights organizations, which assert that the Houthis are obstructing humanitarian efforts and specifically targeting aid workers in the context of Yemen's extended conflict, now nearing a decade.
In a separate address at the UN Security Council meeting, US acting deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea highlighted the responsibility of the Houthis for the worsening safety and well-being of the Yemeni populace.
She claimed that the group is terrorizing local communities, hindering the operations of humanitarian organizations, and exploiting civilians through predatory financial practices.
Shea noted that the Houthis profit from petroleum imports and engage in harassment against civil society activists.
Furthermore, Shea criticized the Houthis for allegedly coercing detainees into providing false confessions for propaganda purposes in videos produced last summer, warning that a climate of bogus trials and potential death sentences looms over those detained.
She joined calls for the Houthis to release all individuals currently in custody, expressing concern that their actions threaten regional stability on a near-daily basis.
Translation:
Translated by AI