YEMEN’S armed Houthi group has returned the UN Human Rights Office in Sanaa, which they had controlled since earlier this month.
On August 3, the Iran-backed group sent a delegation to the UN Human Rights office and forced its staff to hand over the keys.
“The office was handed back today to our resident coordinator in Yemen. The office appears to be in its original condition, but an inventory is underway,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, as reported by CNA, Tuesday (20/8).
Dujarric added that he called for his immediate and unconditional release. “The UN and its partners must not be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their mandate,” Dujarric added.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk called it a serious attack on the UN’s ability to carry out its mandate. The UN on Monday (19/8) renewed its call for the release of 13 of its staff and dozens of NGO and embassy employees who have been held by the Houthis for more than two months.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the welfare of the detainees. The Houthis claim they are capturing a US-Israeli spy network operating under the guise of humanitarian organizations but the UN Human Rights Office has strongly denied the allegations.
The Houthis are engaged in a long-running civil war that has sparked one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with more than half the population dependent on aid in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country.
Fighting has eased significantly since a six-month ceasefire was negotiated by the UN in April 2022, although the ceasefire has officially ended. (I-2)
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