UN Agencies Raided in Yemen's Capital, At Least 11 Employees Detained

Security forces affiliated with the Houthi rebels in Yemen raided the offices of several UN agencies, including the World Food Program, World Health Organization, and UNICEF, in the capital city of Sanaa on Sunday. At least 11 UN employees were detained in the raids, which were conducted in response to Israel's killing of the Houthi prime minister and several cabinet members.

Key Takeaways:

• The Houthi rebels detained at least 11 UN employees in the raids on the offices of the World Food Program, World Health Organization, and UNICEF in Sanaa.
• The raids were a response to Israel's killing of the Houthi prime minister and several cabinet members.
• The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, condemned the detentions and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained personnel.
• The Houthi rebels have detained dozens of UN staffers, as well as people associated with aid groups, civil society, and the now-closed US Embassy in Sanaa.
• The raids are the latest in a long-running Houthi crackdown against the UN and other international organizations working in Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
• The UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, expressed "great concern" over Israel's recent strikes in the Houthi-controlled areas and called for de-escalation.

Statistics:

• At least 11 UN employees were detained in the raids on the offices of the World Food Program, World Health Organization, and UNICEF in Sanaa.
• Dozens of UN staffers have been detained by the Houthi rebels in the past.
• 8 UN staffers were detained in January in the city of Saada.
• The Houthi rebels have launched attacks on Israel and ships in the Red Sea in relation to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Sources:

• Officials with the World Food Program
• Abeer Etefa, spokesperson for the World Food Program
• Ammar Ammar, spokesperson for UNICEF
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres
• Houthi officials
• UN envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg