Yemen’s internationally recognised government has strongly criticised the recent detention of humanitarian workers by the Houthi group in Sanaa.
Thirteen staff members from the United Nations and various international and local non-governmental organisations have reportedly been detained, a move that has sparked widespread condemnation.
The Yemeni foreign ministry issued a statement calling the arrests a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. It further emphasised that such actions place the lives and safety of humanitarian workers in grave danger, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in the country.
The United Nations, in response to the arrests, has suspended all official movements in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen. The decision follows the detention of seven additional UN staff members, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the continued detentions as unacceptable and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to securing the safe release of all detained personnel.
The Houthis have increasingly targeted UN and NGO workers, with reports indicating a rise in such incidents since mid-2023.
In June 2024, the group detained numerous staff members from aid organisations in Sanaa, alleging that they were part of a spy network connected to the US Central Intelligence Agency.
These allegations have been dismissed by international organisations, which continue to call for the release of those detained.
The UN and other global bodies have consistently urged the Houthis to free detained workers. During a visit to Sanaa in December 2024, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed for the release of humanitarian staff.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains unresolved, with the Houthis maintaining their hold over the detainees.
Since taking control of Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen in 2014, the Houthi group has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with forces loyal to the Yemeni government.
The ongoing war has plunged Yemen into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions of people relying on aid to survive.
The detention of humanitarian workers has further strained the already challenging conditions for relief efforts in Yemen. Aid organisations face increasing difficulties in delivering life-saving support to vulnerable populations, as insecurity and access restrictions continue to hinder their operations.
The Yemeni government has called on the international community to intensify pressure on the Houthis to release the detained workers and to ensure the protection of humanitarian personnel operating in conflict zones.
It has also emphasised the need for unified action to address the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis and bring lasting peace to Yemen.
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