Yemen: Free UN Staff & Civilians – Houthis Urged to Act
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are calling for the immediate release of dozens of United Nations and civil society staff members arbitrarily detained by Houthi authorities in...
- The Houthis initiated a series of raids on May 31, 2024, detaining 13 UN staff and at least 50 workers from Yemeni and international organizations.
- Diala Haidar, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International, stated that it is "shocking" that staff have spent almost a year in detention for providing essential medical, food, and human...
The world demands action as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemn the Houthi authorities for the detention of UN and civil society staff in Yemen. These unjust arrests, impacting the crucial delivery of humanitarian aid, began in May 2024 and persist as dozens remain detained without access to legal counsel, highlighting the ongoing crisis. One aid worker tragically died in custody, raising severe concerns. News Directory 3 reports on the urgent calls for the immediate release of these workers amid a broader crackdown limiting aid operations. What steps will be taken to ensure the safety and freedom of those detained and the continuation of vital support? Discover what’s next …
Yemen: houthis Condemned for Detaining UN,Aid Workers
Updated May 30,2025
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are calling for the immediate release of dozens of United Nations and civil society staff members arbitrarily detained by Houthi authorities in Yemen. The organizations emphasize that these detentions, which began in May 2024, are hindering the delivery of critical humanitarian aid.
The Houthis initiated a series of raids on May 31, 2024, detaining 13 UN staff and at least 50 workers from Yemeni and international organizations. Further arrests occurred between Jan. 23-25, 2025, leading the UN to suspend official movements in Houthi-controlled areas.
Diala Haidar, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International, stated that it is “shocking” that staff have spent almost a year in detention for providing essential medical, food, and human rights assistance. She added, “they should have never been arrested in the first place.”
Of those detained, only seven have been released, including one UN staff member, five NGO workers, and one diplomatic mission staff member. At least 50 remain detained without adequate access to legal counsel or family, and without formal charges.
Concerns for the safety of those detained have heightened following the death of a World Food Program aid worker in Houthi custody on Feb. 11.The organizations cite the Houthis’ history of torture and ill-treatment against detainees.
“The Houthis need to facilitate the work of humanitarian workers and the movement of aid,” said Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch. “All countries with influence, as well as the united Nations and civil society organizations, should use all the tools at their disposal to urge the release of those arbitrarily detained and to provide support to their family members.”
The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on civic space in Houthi-controlled areas, accompanied by media campaigns accusing humanitarian organizations of espionage and conspiring against Yemen.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International note that local and international civil society organizations are crucial in addressing yemen’s humanitarian crisis, especially amid funding cuts from donor states.
What’s next
Governments and the UN are urged to increase efforts to secure the release of all detained NGO and UN staff, ensuring the continued delivery of lifesaving assistance to those in need in Yemen.