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UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of at least 11 staff members by Houthi forces on Sunday, marking the latest escalation in tensions between the international organization and Yemen's de facto authorities.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, entered World Food Programme premises in the capital Sana'a and seized UN property while attempting to breach other UN facilities in the city, according to a statement from the Secretary-General's office.
"The personnel of the UN and its partners must never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their duties for the UN," Guterres said. "The safety and security of UN personnel and property as well as the inviolability of UN premises must be guaranteed at all times."
The detention adds to a growing list of international personnel held by Houthi authorities. Guterres reiterated his demand for the immediate and unconditional release of the newly detained staff and all other personnel from the UN, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions who have been arbitrarily detained for over a year and those held since 2021 and 2023.
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The Houthis have controlled significant portions of Yemen, including the capital, while battling government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition for over a decade. The conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Since October 2023, the Iranian-backed group has expanded its operations beyond Yemen's borders, targeting Israel and commercial ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. This escalation has drawn Yemen deeper into the broader Middle East conflict.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed concern Sunday about recent developments in Houthi-controlled areas, which have continued to face Israeli strikes following Ansar Allah attacks against Israel.
Grundberg stressed that Yemen cannot afford to become a battleground for a broader geopolitical conflict and called for all attacks to stop. The Special Envoy continues to urge all sides to use available diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation.
The UN envoy also expressed deep concern over civilian deaths and injuries in recent Israeli attacks. According to Houthi statements, several senior Houthi officials and political interlocutors were killed and injured in the strikes.
"He called on all sides to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, in line with international law," the UN statement said.
The detention of international aid workers has become a persistent problem in Houthi-controlled territories. The group has previously held UN staff and employees of international organizations for extended periods, hampering humanitarian operations in a country where millions depend on international aid.
Yemen's humanitarian crisis has worsened significantly since the conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital and much of northern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition intervened the following year to restore the internationally recognized government.
The World Food Programme, whose premises were raided Sunday, has been working to address severe food insecurity affecting millions of Yemenis. The organization has faced repeated challenges operating in Houthi-controlled areas, including restrictions on staff movement and demands for increased local hiring.
The latest detentions come as the UN continues efforts to maintain humanitarian operations despite security challenges. International organizations have scaled back operations in some areas due to safety concerns while attempting to serve populations in desperate need of assistance.
Previous detention cases have involved accusations of espionage or other security-related charges, which international organizations have consistently denied. The detained personnel typically include both international and local staff working on humanitarian programs.
The Houthis have justified previous detentions by claiming the need to investigate activities they consider suspicious, but international observers have characterized the arrests as arbitrary and part of a broader pattern of restricting international presence in areas under their control.
The group's expansion into regional conflict through attacks on shipping and Israeli targets has complicated diplomatic efforts to resolve Yemen's internal conflict. The Red Sea attacks have prompted international naval coalitions to deploy forces to protect commercial shipping routes.
Despite the challenges, Guterres emphasized the UN's commitment to its mission in Yemen. "The UN will continue to work tirelessly to secure the release of the detained staff members and, together with its partners, will continue to support the people of Yemen and their aspirations for a just and lasting peace," he said.
The Secretary-General's office did not immediately provide details about the nationalities of the detained staff or the specific circumstances that led to their arrest. The identities of previously detained personnel have often been withheld for security reasons.
International diplomatic efforts to address the broader Yemen conflict have stalled in recent years, with peace talks failing to produce lasting agreements. The country remains divided between Houthi-controlled areas in the north and government-controlled territories in the south and east.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate as the conflict enters its second decade. International agencies estimate that more than 24 million people - about 80% of Yemen's population - require humanitarian assistance.
The detention incident underscores the increasingly difficult operating environment for international organizations in Yemen, where political tensions and security concerns have created significant obstacles to delivering aid to populations in need. The UN's ability to maintain operations while protecting its staff remains a critical challenge as the conflict shows no signs of resolution.
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