The Association of Mothers of Abductees Condemns the Houthis’ Postponement of the Prisoner Exchange and Holds Them Responsible for the Suffering of Thousands of Families
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Association of Mothers of Abductees on Saturday condemned the Houthi group’s postponement of the first phase of the prisoner and detainee exchange, which had been scheduled for Sunday under United Nations auspices and the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross, describing the move as “disregard for the suffering of thousands of Yemeni families.”
In a statement, the association said that the postponement “came as a severe shock to mothers, wives, and children who had awaited reunions with their loved ones for more than ten years.” It noted that many families had borne the hardship and expense of traveling to the designated governorates to receive their relatives, only to be surprised by the suspension of the process at the last moment.
The association stated that using the issue of prisoners and detainees “as a bargaining chip for political negotiations or private gains” violates humanitarian principles and demonstrates the continued exploitation of civilians’ suffering for political purposes.
It held the Houthi group fully responsible for obstructing the implementation of the exchange and for the resulting humanitarian and psychological impact on thousands of families.
The association called on the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, and the parties sponsoring the process to take a “clear and firm” stance against any party that hinders the implementation of exchange agreements and to ensure that humanitarian commitments are fulfilled free from political considerations.
It added that continued leniency toward those obstructing the process “encourages further intransigence and evasion of obligations,” undermines confidence in future negotiations or understandings, and prolongs the suffering of thousands of abductees, detainees, and their families.
The association stressed that successful prisoner exchanges are “a humanitarian imperative and a genuine test of the parties’ seriousness in building trust and addressing the consequences of the war,” renewing its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all abductees, detainees, and forcibly disappeared persons, and for this issue to be kept separate from political bargaining.
