Yemen: The United Nations renews its demand that the Houthis release 23 of its detained staff members.

The United Nations has renewed its call on the Iran-backed Houthi militia to immediately release 23 of its detained staff members, some of whom have been held in its prisons for more than three years.

This came in a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, which falls on March 25 of each year. This day is an occasion to mobilize efforts, demand justice, and strengthen the resolve to protect UN staff, peacekeepers, colleagues in non-governmental organizations, and the press.

The statement said that UN staff work around the world to serve the most vulnerable and needy people, and in doing so, in conflict and crisis settings, they bear enormous risks to their personal safety, facing threats of kidnapping, violence, harassment, and detention.

He added: "In light of the increasing challenges facing humanitarian workers, the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff (March 25) highlights the grave risks faced by UN and humanitarian staff, particularly in Yemen, where many UN staff have been detained by the de facto Houthi authorities since 2021."

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philomon Yang, emphasized that we must not forget the dozens of missing or detained staff members. He added, "In Yemen, 23 UN staff members, along with many other humanitarian workers, remain detained—some for more than three years. One UN aid worker from the World Food Programme died while in detention."

The President of the General Assembly, which comprises all 193 UN member states, called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN personnel detained in Yemen and elsewhere.

He added: "Our detained colleagues have dedicated themselves to educating children, providing vital medical and food assistance to millions, and promoting peace and dialogue. Their work must be protected. I stand in full solidarity with all those detained. They must be released and protected."

It should be noted that the employees detained in Yemen are all national employees who, prior to their detention, worked with UN agencies and other international organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Food Programme, CARE, Save the Children, and Oxfam.

According to UN statistics, 52 of its employees are being held captive around the world, including 23 employees held by the Houthi militia in areas under its control in Yemen.