Yemeni government renews support for humanitarian community in face of Houthi actions

The Yemeni government renewed its full support for the humanitarian community in confronting the terrorist Houthi militia's measures against employees of UN and relief agencies.

Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak said in his post on the "X" platform, on Monday evening, "On World Humanitarian Day, we renew our full support for the humanitarian community against the terrorist Houthi militia's measures against employees of UN and relief agencies."

He added, coinciding with the World Humanitarian Day, which falls on August 19 of each year, "The government is proceeding with providing all facilities for humanitarian work from the interim capital, Aden, and the liberated governorates."

Bin Mubarak stressed the Yemeni government's commitment to every path that works to alleviate the suffering of our Yemeni people.

On #World_Humanitarian_Day, we renew our full support for the humanitarian community against the terrorist actions of the Houthi militia against employees of UN and relief agencies. We in the government are continuing to provide all facilities for humanitarian work from the interim capital #Aden and the liberated governorates. The government is committed to every path that works to…

- Ahmed A. BinMubarak (@BinmubarakAhmed) August 19, 2024

This comes at a time when the Houthi militia continues a widespread campaign of repression against workers in international and UN organizations and humanitarian missions in areas under its control.

In a statement on the occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned on Monday the recent storming of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana'a by the Houthis.

Guterres said he "remains deeply concerned about the safety of UN staff, members of civil society, national and international non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions and private sector entities who have been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis for more than two months, calling for their immediate and unconditional release," according to the UN website.

The UN Secretary-General reiterated the need to treat detainees with full respect for their human rights and to enable them to contact their families and legal representatives.

He added that the humanitarian and development situation in Yemen is dire, with more than 18 million people suffering from the repercussions of food insecurity, epidemics, displacement, damaged infrastructure and critical economic conditions.

He pointed out that the United Nations is working hard to address the effects of this situation on the people of Yemen, "but the safety of our staff must be ensured, and that the United Nations and its partners are not targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their mandates."

In early June, the Houthi militia launched a wide-scale kidnapping campaign that targeted dozens of employees and workers in international and UN organizations and civil society, accusing them of spying for foreign parties.