Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Three international human rights organizations demanded on Sunday that the Houthi group immediately and unconditionally release dozens of UN, local, and international civil society organization staff members detained by the group, warning that their continued detention exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the country.
A joint statement issued by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International stated that the Houthis have been arbitrarily detaining dozens of humanitarian workers for two years, directly impacting the delivery of life-saving aid to those in need in areas under their control.
According to the statement, since May 31, 2024, the group has carried out a series of raids resulting in the detention of 13 UN staff members and at least 50 employees of local and international civil society organizations, before the campaign expanded to include dozens more.
It noted that as of February 2026, 73 UN staff members and dozens of other humanitarian workers remain detained by the Houthis, all of whom are Yemeni, while only seven have been released since the start of the campaign.
The statement quoted Nico Jafarnia, Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch, as saying, “Detaining humanitarian workers while famine worsens reflects a blatant disregard for the needs of the population in Houthi-controlled areas,” calling for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained.
The organizations also expressed concern over the conditions of the detainees, especially following the death of a WFP employee while in Houthi custody in February 2025, pointing to growing fears that detainees are being subjected to torture, ill-treatment, and the denial of medical care for some.
The statement added that many of the detainees were arrested without judicial warrants and were subjected to enforced disappearance for months, while some were prevented from communicating with lawyers or family members.
The organizations accused the Houthis of using “espionage” charges to target humanitarian and human rights workers as part of a broader campaign against civic space in northern Yemen.
For her part, Diala Haidar, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International, said that the Houthis must immediately release all those arbitrarily detained, ensure their protection from torture and ill-treatment, and provide them with healthcare and legal assistance until their release.
The organizations called on governments with influence over the Houthis and UN leadership to intensify efforts to secure the release of all detainees, and to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches various parts of Yemen safely and without hindrance.
