New York, SANA- UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of at least 11 UN Personnel by Houthi de facto authorities in areas under their control in Yemen.
UN website quoted Guterres as saying in a statement: “We further condemn the forced entry into the premises of World Food Programme, seizure of UN property, and attempts to enter other UN premises in Sana’a”.
He stressed that this continued arbitrary detention of all such persons is intolerable.
Guterres reiterated his demand for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained, as well all other personnel from United Nations, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions who have been arbitrarily detained since June 2024 and those held since 2021 and 2023.
He added: “The UN personnel and its partners must never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their duties for the UN. The safety and security of UN personnel as well UN premises inviolability must be guaranteed at all times.
In turn, Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said: “These arrests violate the UN Personnel safety, dignity, and ability to perform their essential work in Yemen”, calling on Houthis to “immediately and unconditionally release them”.
Rafah/ Manar
