The United Nations said on Tuesday that its human rights offices in Sanaa have been seized by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with the UN human rights chief demanding that they leave immediately and return all confiscated property.
On August 3, the Iran-backed Houthis sent a delegation to the compound of the UN human rights office in Sanaa and forced staff to hand over the keys. The Geneva-based office said it still controlled the compound.
“Entering a UN office without permission and forcibly seizing documents and property are completely incompatible with the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.
“It is also a serious attack on the ability of the United Nations to fulfil its mandate, including with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights, which my office exists to defend.
“Ansar Allah forces must leave the premises and return all property and belongings immediately.”
The Houthis are embroiled in a long-running civil war that has sparked one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. More than half the population in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country depends on aid.
Rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention on behalf of the government the following March.
In June this year, the Houthis detained 13 UN staff, including six from the human rights office, more than 50 non-governmental organisation staff and one embassy employee.
The Houthis claimed they had arrested “an American-Israeli spy network” operating under the cover of humanitarian organisations – allegations the UN human rights office has vehemently rejected.
Two other UN Human Rights staff have been detained since November 2021 and August 2023 respectively. All of them have been detained without any contact.
“With a heavy heart, I once again appeal for his immediate and unconditional release,” Turk said.
“It is vital that the de facto authorities respect the UN and its independence, immediately release all detained UN staff, and create conditions in which my office and other UN agencies can continue their vital work for the people of Yemen without threat or hindrance.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
