NEW YORK: The UN Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned the detention of at least 21 of UN personnel by Yemen’s Houthi militants, calling for their immediate and unconditional release, and warning that such actions violate international law and jeopardize humanitarian operations.
Council members expressed “deep concern” over the arrests, which began on Aug. 31, and denounced the forced entry into UN agency premises, including those of the World Food Programme and UNICEF, and the seizure of UN property by Houthis.
“These actions are in clear violation of international law,” the 15-member body said, stressing that the safety and security of UN staff and premises must be guaranteed at all times.
The council also condemned the detention of staff from UN agencies, diplomatic missions, and international and national NGOs. Some of those personnel have been held since as early as 2021.
Council members warned that the detentions are exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where food insecurity levels remain alarmingly high. They reiterated that threats to aid workers are “unacceptable” and emphasized the need for unimpeded humanitarian access.
