On Tuesday, Yemeni Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, detained nine more staff members from the United Nations, increasing the total number of UN personnel held in the last four years to 53.
While the Houthis haven’t released an official statement explaining why these recent detentions occurred, they frequently accuse UN staff of being involved in espionage against them. Most of those detained are Yemeni, though some foreigners are included.
In late August, the Houthis had previously taken into custody 19 employees from UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP), alleging they were engaged in espionage on behalf of the United States and its allies, including Israel.
The UN dismissed these allegations and urged the Houthis to release the detained personnel immediately. The WFP condemned the detention of its staff and the vandalism of its offices in Yemen, stating that such actions jeopardized their ability to provide aid to vulnerable populations.
The WFP stressed that the safety of humanitarian workers and adherence to international humanitarian law must be upheld.
When their requests went unanswered, the WFP decided to pause all operations in Houthi-controlled areas, a move they made reluctantly, prioritizing the safety of their staff.
After the latest abduction, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric indicated the Houthis were impeding the UN’s capacity to offer critical assistance in Yemen. He reiterated the need for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all UN personnel, asserting they should be respected and protected under international law.
Dujarric emphasized that the UN will persist in its efforts to secure the release of arbitrarily detained staff and to recover UN offices and assets.
The Houthis are an Iranian-supported group that seized control of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, in 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. This conflict has significantly contributed to Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
The Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah or “Army of Allah,” has a motto calling for hostility towards America and Israel. They have also targeted international transport ships and attacked locations in Israel in support of Hamas during the recent Gaza conflict that began in 2023.
