Yemen: Security Council members strongly condemn the Houthis' continued detention of UN personnel

Arab Sea Newspaper - News Updates

Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: The UN Security Council strongly condemned the Houthis' detention of at least 21 more UN employees last month, in addition to storming the headquarters of the World Food Programme and UNICEF and confiscating the organization's property, in violation of international law. It stressed the need to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and the inviolability of its premises at all times. In a statement issued on Friday, the Council members condemned in the strongest terms the Houthis' continued detention of personnel from the United Nations, national and international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions, and expressed deep concern for their safety, as some of them have been detained since 2021. The Council members demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained by the Houthis, and reaffirmed that all threats against humanitarian aid providers are unacceptable. They expressed grave concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, adding that the detention of aid workers "threatens to exacerbate an already dire situation." The Council members called on the Houthis to provide a safe and secure working environment and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid in areas under their control, and reiterated their support for the United Nations in maintaining the necessary measures to improve the safety and security of personnel in the current security context. They also welcomed the continued work of the United Nations through all possible channels to ensure the safe and immediate release of detainees, and renewed their support for Special Envoy Hans Grundberg in his efforts to reach a comprehensive negotiated political settlement to the crisis in the country, led and owned by Yemen.