The Houthis Kidnap 9 New UN Employees in Yemen Amid International Condemnation

In a serious development reflecting the ongoing escalation against international workers in Yemen, the United Nations announced today, Tuesday, that the Houthi group has kidnapped nine of its employees working in the country, in the latest episodes of a crackdown targeting staff of UN agencies and international organizations since late August.

With this, the number of UN employees kidnapped by the group rises to 53 since 2021.

In an official statement attributed to Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres strongly condemned these arbitrary arrests, affirming that these practices directly hinder the international organization's ability to provide essential humanitarian assistance in Yemen.

Dujarric said: "The Houthi de facto authorities have recently detained nine additional employees, raising the total number of arbitrarily detained individuals to 53 since 2021," noting that the continued arrests and illegal seizure of UN premises and assets in Houthi-controlled areas constitute a blatant violation of international laws.

The Secretary-General expressed his deep concern for the safety and security of the detained international employees, reiterating his urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN employees, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, as well as diplomatic mission staff.

Guterres emphasized the need to respect the international immunity enjoyed by UN premises and properties, stressing that all parties must adhere to international agreements, foremost among them the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

The statement clarified that the United Nations will continue to work "tirelessly" through all available diplomatic channels to ensure the safe and immediate release of its detained employees and the restoration of its agencies' premises and assets in Yemen.

This escalation comes after the United Nations announced in August that at least 11 employees had been kidnapped by the Houthis, following a wide-ranging crackdown launched by the group after the killing of their Prime Minister in Israeli strikes, according to UN reports.

In light of these increasing security threats, the United Nations officially relocated its humanitarian coordinator's office from Sana'a to Aden, the coastal city that serves as the temporary headquarters for the internationally recognized Yemeni government since the Houthis seized the capital Sana'a in 2014.

In conclusion, the UN Secretary-General emphasized that the international organization will continue its support for the Yemeni people and their aspirations for achieving a just and lasting peace, despite the increasing security challenges imposed by the Houthi authorities on the ground.