Guterres demands release of UN staff detained by Houthis in Yemen

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Houthi authorities in Yemen to immediately and unconditionally release 11 UN employees detained in a series of raids over the weekend.

The arrests, which targeted offices of the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN children’s agency UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), were carried out on Sunday in the capital, Sanaa, and the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah, according to the UN and multiple news agencies.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg confirmed the detentions, noting that they add to the 23 other UN workers who have been in Houthi custody since 2021.

“These latest arrests further exacerbate an already deeply concerning situation,” Grundberg said.

The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen including Sanaa, have yet to issue a public statement on the detentions. The circumstances surrounding the raids remain unclear.

The arrests come as Yemen’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with millions of civilians relying on international aid amid years of conflict between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognized government.

Guterres condemned the detentions and called on the Houthis to respect international law. “The Secretary-General demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN staff,” a spokesperson said.

Aid organizations have warned that the incident could further disrupt relief operations in a country already on the brink of famine.