UN chief condemns Houthis' detention of 7 UN personnel

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly" condemned the Houthis' detention of seven UN staffers in Yemen on Friday.

"I demand the immediate and unconditional release of those detained on Thursday, as well as the personnel from the United Nations, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions arbitrarily detained since June 2024 and those held since 2021 and 2023.

"Their continued arbitrary detention is unacceptable," Guterres said in a statement.

The UN said Friday it suspended all movements within and to areas controlled by Houthi forces after more staffers were detained in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

"The personnel of the UN and its partners must not be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their duties for the UN for the benefit of the people they serve," Guterres said, adding the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed.

The continued targeting of UN personnel and partners "negatively" affects the organization's ability to assist millions of people in need in Yemen, he stressed.

"The Houthis must deliver on their previous commitments and act in the best interests of the Yemeni people and the overall efforts to achieve peace in Yemen," he said.

Underlining that the UN will continue to work through all possible channels to secure the "safe and immediate" release of those arbitrarily detained, Guterres said he welcomes the collective support of international partners, NGOs and all those working to support the people of Yemen in those efforts.