Yemen Monitor / Riyadh / Exclusive:
The UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, expressed deep concern over the recent wave of arbitrary detentions carried out by the Houthi group in Yemen, which included more than 40 UN employees.
In a meeting with several ambassadors accredited to Yemen, including representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Grundberg stressed the seriousness of these measures.
Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, strongly condemned the actions and reiterated the call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained staff. He noted that this number is in addition to 23 employees who have been held for years, some since 2021, as well as other detainees from international and local organizations and diplomatic missions.
For his part, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described the detentions as “a direct attack on the UN system,” demanding their immediate release.
Grundberg’s concerns extended beyond the detentions to ongoing hostilities between the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) and Israel. He emphasized the need for international and regional efforts to prevent further escalation and safeguard peace efforts in Yemen.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric also highlighted Houthi attacks targeting Israel, citing a drone strike on an airport on the 7th of this month.
He warned that any further escalation could destabilize Yemen and the region even more, stressing the necessity for all parties to respect international humanitarian law at all times.
