UN Staff Released by Houthi Rebels After Detention in Yemen.
- the Observatory for Human Rights
- Nov 11
- 2 min read
Houthi rebels have recently released United Nations (UN) staff members who were illegally detained in Yemen. In recent years, dozens UN employees have been imprisoned, and some have died while in custody; this highlights an ongoing human rights issue that has been firmly addressed by the international community.
In October, Houthi rebels detained 20 UN staff in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, including five Yemeni nationals and 15 international employees. The employees belonged to several UN agencies, including UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP). According to UN officials, the rebels also confiscated communications equipment. After negotiation talks, all detainees were released at the end of the month, and the rebels allowed them to move freely within the UN compound in the region.
This is not the first time that the Houthi have imprisoned UN staff. For instance, the rebels have been targeting UN and embassy workers employed in the region for several years, claiming they are spies for Israel. So far, at least 50 UN staff members have been detained. Some abductees have reportedly suffered human rights violations while in Houthi custody; one international WFP worker died in January 2025 while detained. According to the UN, Yemeni nationals could face the death penalty as the Houthi-ran authorities have put them on trial.
The Houthi-run government has especially held a cell within WFP accountable for operations against them. Several ministers were killed in an Israeli strike in August, and since then, many UN workers have been accused of spying for Netanyahu’s government.
Since October 2023, the Houthi rebels have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea carrying military equipment destined for Israel, as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians. Netanyahu’s government has responded by targeting civilian infrastructure. This has strengthened the rebels’ conviction that the international presence in the region is supporting Israeli interests.
The situation remains extremely delicate. After January 2025, the UN relocated its humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from the capital to the coast of the country where the internationally recognized government is located. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the detention of UN personnel. “These actions hinder the UN’s ability to operate in Yemen and to deliver critical assistance” his spokesman said. The Secretary General also encouraged member states with influence in the region to assist in securing the release of international staff as UN negotiations with the Houthis continue.
written by Ludovica Muncibì
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