The United Nations has confirmed the release of one of its staff members detained by Yemen’s Houthi authorities, while 53 others remain in custody amid mounting tensions in the war-torn country.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric announced the development on Wednesday, urging the Houthis to “immediately and unconditionally release all UN and humanitarian workers who are supporting the most vulnerable people in Yemen.”
Dujarric did not disclose details about the circumstances of the staff member’s detention or release but noted that some of the detained personnel have been held since 2021. The UN says the detentions highlight growing risks for humanitarian workers operating in Yemen.
The release follows earlier incidents in which nine UN employees were detained, underscoring worsening conditions for international organisations amid Yemen’s prolonged conflict.
Yemen remains at the centre of one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with the World Food Programme (WFP) reporting that it reached 15.3 million people—nearly half the population—in 2023.
Tensions between the Houthis and global agencies escalated in August after Houthi forces raided several UN offices in Sanaa, detaining 11 staff members. The raid came shortly after an Israeli airstrike on the city that killed the Houthi-run government’s prime minister and several ministers.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had condemned the detentions as “intolerable,” while Houthi officials defended their actions, claiming that UN staff “engaged in espionage activities” under the guise of humanitarian work.
The group’s foreign ministry accused the UN of bias, alleging it failed to condemn Israeli attacks while criticising “legal measures” taken against alleged spy cells.
Despite the recent release, the UN continues to call for the freedom of all detained humanitarian personnel, warning that the continued targeting of aid workers threatens critical relief operations for millions of Yemenis facing hunger, disease, and displacement.
