UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate and unconditional release of 11 UN staff arrested by Houthi authorities in Yemen.
The workers were detained by security forces in raids on the World Food Programme (WFP), children's charity Unicef and the World Health Organization (WHO), news agencies and the UN said.
Sunday's raids took place in the capital, Sanaa, and port city of Hudaydah, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said.
Grundberg stated that the Houthis had already been holding 23 other UN workers arrested since 2021.
Houthi authorities have not commented on Sunday's arrests.
In a statement, Guterres expressed his strong condemnation of the arbitrary detentions of at least 11 UN personnel by the Houthis. He also condemned the forced entry into WFP and other UN premises, as well as the seizure of property.
It is unclear why the Houthis targeted UN workers, given the significant role they play in providing aid in Yemen, which has been suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises globally.
One of those previously arrested reportedly died in detention earlier this year, according to Grundberg.
The Houthis have also detained around 20 Yemeni employees of the US embassy for the past three years.
Despite sustained engagement and assurances sought over the last year, the arbitrary detention of UN staff, NGO workers and civil society has continued, Grundberg commented. These actions severely hinder broader efforts to deliver assistance and advance peace in Yemen.
The recent arrests come at a time of heightened tension following an Israeli attack that killed the Houthi prime minister and other officials, marking a significant escalation in conflict in the region. Since November 2023, the Houthis have been launching missile attacks on Israel in support of Palestine amidst ongoing conflict with Hamas.
The Iran-backed Houthis have held sway over the capital and the northwest of Yemen since 2015, having ousted the internationally recognized government during a civil war that has led to over 150,000 deaths and left millions in dire need of aid.
