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Houthis Release 12 UN Staff Amid Yemen Crisis—But 53 Remain Detained

Twelve United Nations international staff have been released from Houthi detention in Yemen's capital. They were flown out of the country on a UN plane from Sanaa airport. However, the situation remains critical as 53 other UN colleagues are still being held arbitrarily. The detentions began after Houthi leaders made unsubstantiated accusations about UN staff collaborating with Israel.

Key Points: 12 UN Staff Leave Yemen After Houthi Detention in Sanaa

  • Twelve UN international staff released and flown out of Yemen after detention
  • Houthis raided UN compound in Sanaa and confiscated staff belongings
  • Detentions followed Houthi leader's unproven collaboration accusations against UN
  • Group continues Red Sea attacks citing Palestinian solidarity since Gaza war
2 min read

12 UN staff leave Yemen after Houthi detention

Twelve UN international staff released from Houthi detention in Yemen's capital, flown out of country while 53 colleagues remain arbitrarily held.

"53 UN colleagues remain arbitrarily detained by the de-facto authorities - UN Special Envoy Statement"

Sanaa, Oct 23

Twelve United Nations international staff detained last week by the Houthis in Yemen's capital Sanaa were released and flown out of the country, said a statement from UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg's office.

Three other detained UN employees were also free to move or travel, the statement said on Wednesday.

A UN plane was seen departing Sanaa airport on Wednesday morning, according to an airport employee.

Despite the releases, "53 UN colleagues remain arbitrarily detained by the de-facto authorities (Houthi group)," the statement said, renewing the UN Secretary-General's call for their immediate and unconditional release, Xinhua news agency reported.

The statement did not mention whether the phones and laptops were also returned to the UN staffers or not.

Last week, a statement from the UN envoy's office said all belongings of the UN staff were confiscated.

The Houthis raided the UN compound in Sanaa last weekend, holding 20 staff, including 15 foreigners, inside the compound.

Five Yemeni nationals were released on Sunday.

The incident came after Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi accused UN staff in a televised speech of collaborating with Israel in deadly August airstrikes on Sanaa that killed several senior Houthi officials, including the group's chief of staff, Mohammed al-Gumari.

However, the group's leader did not provide evidence.

Israel said the strikes were in response to Houthi missile attacks.

The UN has denied the accusations.

The Iran-aligned Houthis seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen in late 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year.

Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, the group has launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, damaging dozens of vessels and sinking four.

The Houthis say their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While I understand the Houthis' anger about the airstrikes, detaining UN workers without proof is unacceptable. This sets a dangerous precedent for humanitarian organizations operating in conflict zones worldwide.
A
Arjun K
The Middle East situation keeps getting more complicated. As Indians, we should be concerned about how these conflicts affect global stability and our diaspora in the region. Hope diplomacy prevails and all detained staff are freed.
S
Sarah B
The confiscation of phones and laptops is particularly worrying - this could compromise sensitive humanitarian data and put more people at risk. The UN needs stronger protocols for staff safety in volatile regions.
V
Vikram M
This shows how the Gaza conflict is creating ripple effects across the region. While I support Palestine, targeting neutral humanitarian workers isn't the way. The international community needs to step up mediation efforts.
M
Michael C
Respectfully, I think the UN needs to review its security arrangements in such high-risk areas. While the Houthis' actions are wrong, better protection for humanitarian workers could prevent such incidents.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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