Yemen’s Houthi rebels storms UN premises, detain at least 11 staff
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels raided offices of the United Nations’ food, health and children’s agencies in the Yemeni Capital Sanaa on Sunday, and captured at least 11 employees.
According to officials, the rebels tightened security across the city and carried out numerous arrests after Israel killed their prime minister and other Cabinet members.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the confirmed 11 staff members subjected to what he described as “arbitrary detention” by the Houthis.
UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg said the detentions, carried out in Sanaa and Hodeida, followed “forced entry into UN premises and the seizure of UN property.”
Grundberg noted that these cases add to the 23 UN officials previously detained, some since 2021, including one who died in custody this year.
Among the offices raided were those of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, according to both UN and Houthi officials.
The UN official said armed forces raided the offices and questioned workers in the parking lot.
The attacks were the latest in a series of Houthi-crackdown against the UN and other international organizations working in Yemeni regions.
The rebels have detained numerous UN staffers, as well as people part in aid groups, civil society, and the now-closed US embassy in Sanaa.
The UN suspended its operations in the stronghold of Houthi in Saada, northern Yemen, after the group detained 8 UN workers in January.
via Ken Jansen Vinuya, Insight PH
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels raided offices of the United Nations’ food, health and children’s agencies in the Yemeni Capital Sanaa on Sunday, and captured at least 11 employees.
According to officials, the rebels tightened security across the city and carried out numerous arrests after Israel killed their prime minister and other Cabinet members.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the confirmed 11 staff members subjected to what he described as “arbitrary detention” by the Houthis.
UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg said the detentions, carried out in Sanaa and Hodeida, followed “forced entry into UN premises and the seizure of UN property.”
Grundberg noted that these cases add to the 23 UN officials previously detained, some since 2021, including one who died in custody this year.
Among the offices raided were those of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, according to both UN and Houthi officials.
The UN official said armed forces raided the offices and questioned workers in the parking lot.
The attacks were the latest in a series of Houthi-crackdown against the UN and other international organizations working in Yemeni regions.
The rebels have detained numerous UN staffers, as well as people part in aid groups, civil society, and the now-closed US embassy in Sanaa.
The UN suspended its operations in the stronghold of Houthi in Saada, northern Yemen, after the group detained 8 UN workers in January.
via Ken Jansen Vinuya, Insight PH
Written by Ken Jansen Vinuya, Insight PH
Ken Jansen Vinuya, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.