UN Secretary-General Condemns Arbitrary Detention of Personnel in Yemen

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has spoken out against the detention of at least 11 UN personnel by the Houthis in Yemen, denouncing forced entry into UN premises and the seizure of UN property. Guterres called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained personnel, emphasizing that UN staff must never be targeted, arrested, or detained while carrying out their duties. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, also condemned the detentions, expressing solidarity with the detained colleagues and their families and reaffirming the need for the immediate release of all detained UN personnel.

Key Takeaways:

• At least 11 UN personnel, including staff from the World Food Programme, have been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis in Yemen.
• The Houthis have also forced entry into UN premises, seized UN property, and attempted to enter other UN facilities in Sana'a.
• This is not the first instance of arbitrary detention; at least 23 others, including some since 2021 and 2023, have been detained, and one colleague died in custody earlier this year.
• The work of UN personnel is conducted under the principles of neutrality, impartiality, independence, and humanity, stressing that these arrests violate the obligation to respect and protect their safety, dignity, and ability to carry out their essential work.
• Hans Grundberg has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN personnel, in addition to staff from national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.
• Grundberg expressed solidarity with the detained colleagues and their families, affirming that securing their release remains a priority for him and the entire UN system.

Statistics:

• At least 11 UN personnel have been detained by the Houthis in Yemen since August 31.
• At least 34 individuals, including UN staff and representatives from international and national NGOs and civil society organizations, have been arbitrarily detained in total, including some as far back as 2021 and 2023.
• The detention of UN personnel has severely hindered broader efforts to deliver assistance and advance peace in Yemen.

Sources:

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (statement on Sunday)
• Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen