UN Condemns Houthi Arrests of Staff Amid Escalating Violence in Yemen

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the recent wave of arrests perpetrated by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which targeted at least 11 United Nations staff members. These arrests took place in the capital city of Sanaa and the western city of Hodeidah, both of which are strongholds for the Houthi group. The arrests follow a series of Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi and other senior officials on Thursday. In retaliation, the Houthis initiated a crackdown on individuals associated with international organizations. Hans Grudberg, the UN envoy to Yemen, issued a statement condemning the arbitrary arrests, characterizing them as a violation of international norms. He also condemned the break-in at UN facilities and the seizure of UN property by Houthi forces. Alongside Guterres, Grudberg demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all UN personnel detained by the Houthis, emphasizing the need to respect humanitarian workers and diplomatic missions operating in the region. In a recent announcement, the World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that one of its employees has also been taken by Houthi rebels in Sanaa. The organization expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of additional staff members involved in humanitarian aid efforts throughout the country. The situation escalated following the airstrikes, with reports indicating that a total of ten employees from UNICEF and WFP faced arrests during a raid on their offices. The UN has previously reported that since June 2024, multiple Yemeni workers have been detained by the Houthis, leading to a significant curtailment of UN operations in one of the world's most impoverished nations, where access to humanitarian aid is already severely limited. The ongoing crisis in Yemen, coupled with these new developments, presents a dire scenario as the international community seeks to respond to escalating violence and human rights violations in the region. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2