The situation in Yemen is growing increasingly tense as the United Nations reported that Houthi rebels continue to detain 20 of its personnel following a raid on the UN’s building in Sanaa. This incident occurred on Saturday, with the UN describing the Houthi security forces’ actions as an “unauthorized entry” into its compound.
Jean Alam, spokesperson for the UN coordinator in Yemen, confirmed that the detainees include five national and fifteen international staff members. The UN is actively engaged with authorities in Sanaa, relevant member states, and the Yemeni government to address this “serious situation” swiftly and to restore full access to its facilities.
Notably, Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF representative in Yemen, is reportedly among those detained, as confirmed by two Houthi security sources. This incident adds to growing concerns about the safety and autonomy of humanitarian operations in Houthi-controlled areas, particularly following a similar raid on August 31, where over 11 employees were taken into custody.
During that earlier incident, Houthi officials alleged that those detained were engaged in espionage activities for the United States and Israel, a claim that has been met with widespread condemnation from the UN. In a recent statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, reiterated calls for an end to the arbitrary detention of UN staff, highlighting the organization’s ongoing struggle with the detention of 53 of its colleagues.
The Houthi leader, Abdelmalek al-Huthi, claimed in a recent televised address that his forces had dismantled “one of the most dangerous spy cells,” linking it to humanitarian organizations such as the World Food Program and UNICEF. Dujarric described these accusations as “dangerous and unacceptable,” intensifying concerns regarding the hostile environment for humanitarian work in the region.
The severity of the situation is compounded by a significant number of arrests of UN personnel and international NGO workers in recent months. Since the end of August, reports indicate that 21 UN staff members have faced detention, alongside 23 current and former international NGO personnel.
Yemen remains embroiled in a civil war that has persisted for nearly a decade, resulting in one of the direst humanitarian crises globally, with millions of civilians in desperate need of assistance. The ongoing conflict and increasing hostility toward humanitarian operations present significant challenges in delivering aid and support to those affected by the war.
