Geneva.. The United Nations renews its demand for the immediate release of its employees and those of organizations detained by the Houthis

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR ) renewed its calls for the immediate and unconditional release of UN and non-governmental organization employees who have been detained by the Houthis in Yemen for more than a month.

The Commission spokesman said: Jeremy Lawrence during a press conference, held Tuesday in Geneva: “We urge the de facto authorities in Sana’a (the Houthis) to release United Nations and non-governmental organization personnel immediately and unconditionally.”

He added, "We remain deeply concerned about the safety of 13 United Nations staff and a number of non-governmental organization staff who have been detained by the de facto Houthi authorities in Yemen for more than a month, and we continue to be refused access to them."

The spokesman also expressed particular concern about the situation of two other UN staff members who have already been in detention for long periods, one since November 2021 and the other since August 2023.

He stated that the UNHCR is deeply concerned about the safety of the detained staff and the conditions of their detention, and “it is important that the de facto authorities ensure that detainees are treated with full respect for their human rights, and that they are able to contact their families and legal representatives.”

The Commission's spokesman affirmed his strong rejection of the accusations leveled by the Houthi group against the detained employees, and said: "We strongly reject the horrific accusations, which were broadcast publicly, against our employees, and we urge the Houthi authorities to release them immediately."

Lawrence called on all countries and entities that have influence on the Houthi group to use their influence to ensure the safe and speedy release of all detained United Nations and non-governmental organization employees.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed the need for the Houthis to stop targeting human rights and humanitarian aid workers in Yemen.

In recent weeks, the Houthi militia launched a massive kidnapping campaign that affected dozens of employees in UN, international and local organizations, before returning and broadcasting video recordings of kidnapped persons saying that they were accused of spying for foreign parties.