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Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 (ChatnewsTV) — Principals from various United Nations entities and international non-governmental organizations have renewed their call for the immediate release of detained personnel, following alarming reports from the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen. These reports suggest that a significant number of arbitrarily detained individuals, including three United Nations staff members, may face criminal prosecution.
According to a joint statement released Sunday, the detainees include two UNESCO employees and one from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), who have been held since 2021 and 2023. The organizations expressed grave concern over the development, describing the potential charges against the colleagues as unacceptable, and highlighting that the staff had already endured prolonged incommunicado detention.
“This decision raises serious concerns about the safety and security of our personnel and will impede our ability to provide humanitarian aid to millions of Yemenis in need,” the statement said. The principals stressed that such actions have detrimental effects on the well-being of Yemen’s vulnerable populations.
The signatories—representing organizations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), OXFAM International, UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP)—urged for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel. They condemned the targeting of humanitarians, which includes arbitrary detention, intimidation, and false allegations, and called for an end to these actions.
The statement added that the United Nations and its partners are actively working through diplomatic channels to secure the release of the detainees.
