US Embassy: WHO Director-General Pressured Houthis to Release All Detainees

The US Embassy in Yemen confirmed on Monday that the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, exerted pressure on the Houthi militias during his visit to Sana'a to release detained Yemeni citizens.

The embassy said via the "X" platform, "We express our thanks to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, for his visit to Sana'a and for putting pressure on the Houthis to release all Yemeni citizens who are being held illegally, including those who have been unjustly detained since 2021."

She added: “We also appreciate his engagement with Yemeni government officials in Aden. We renew our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those unjustly detained in Yemen.”

We thank Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros , WHO Director-General, for his visit to Sana'a and for pressuring the Houthis to release all unlawfully detained Yemeni citizens, including those unjustly detained since 2021. We also appreciate his engagement with… pic.twitter.com/4gtl508mDT

— US Embassy Yemen (@USEmbassyYemen) December 30, 2024

Last Thursday, the director of the World Health Organization narrowly escaped death during the Israeli airstrikes that targeted Sanaa airport, while they were preparing to board the departing plane.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was visiting Yemen on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on a mission to secure the release of UN staff held by the Houthis and assess the health and humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.

It is noteworthy that the terrorist Houthi militias are kidnapping dozens of workers in international and UN relief organizations, as well as former employees of the US Embassy in Yemen.