Heads of organizations and the UN envoy to Yemen denounce the Houthi militias’ referral of a large number of kidnapped employees to the “Criminal Court”

The heads of the United Nations organizations, international non-governmental organizations, and the UN envoy to Yemen expressed their deep concern over the Houthi militias’ referral of a large number of arbitrarily abducted employees to the Criminal Prosecution in Sana’a.

A joint statement published by the UN envoy's office on Saturday said: "We are deeply concerned about the reported referral by the Houthi de facto authorities of a large number of arbitrarily detained colleagues to the 'Criminal Prosecution'."

He pointed out that "among them are three UN employees, two from UNESCO and one from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who were arrested in 2021 and 2023."

“We are deeply saddened to receive news of this reported development at a time when we were hoping for the release of our colleagues. The possible ‘charges’ against our colleagues are unacceptable and add to the period of incommunicado detention they have already endured,” the statement added.

He stressed that this decision raises serious concerns about the safety and security of our employees and their families, warning that it "will further hinder our ability to reach millions of people in Yemen who need humanitarian assistance and protection services, which will negatively affect their safety and situation."

He continued: “We, the heads of the affected UN entities and international NGOs, renew our urgent appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of all staff of UN agencies, international and national NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions arbitrarily detained in Yemen by the de facto authorities.”

The statement stressed that "the targeting of humanitarian workers in Yemen, including arbitrary detention, intimidation, ill-treatment, and false allegations, must stop, and all detainees must be released immediately."

He pointed out that the United Nations, international non-governmental organizations and partners, through all possible channels and with multiple governments, are working to ensure the release of these detainees.

The statement was signed by:

Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization

Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International

Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO

Cindy Hensley McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director

Reintje van Heeringen, CEO of CARE Netherlands and Chairman of the Executive Committee of CARE International

Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Yemen.