In a recent meeting between UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg and Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam in Muscat, Oman, the ongoing issue of detained UN staff in Yemen was a key point of discussion. Grundberg strongly condemned the continued detention of UN personnel, which has escalated in recent months. He called for the immediate release of all detained UN staff, as well as NGO workers, civil society members, and diplomats held by Houthi forces, in what the UN describes as an “arbitrary detention” practice.
The UN has raised concerns over the mounting number of detentions, which have included staff members since 2021 and as recently as 2024. According to a statement from the UN’s Office of the Special Envoy, this action has hindered humanitarian efforts and the UN’s ability to function effectively in Houthi-controlled areas. The situation has worsened, with the latest round of detentions involving seven UN staff members, prompting the UN to announce the suspension of all official movements in areas under Houthi control.
The Houthis have justified these detentions by alleging that the individuals are connected to a spy network linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In June 2024 alone, the Houthis claimed to have detained 13 UN staff members and over 50 NGO workers, accusing them of espionage activities, which the UN has denied. Despite these claims, the international community, including the UN, continues to push for the safe release of those detained.
This episode is part of the broader context of the ongoing civil war in Yemen, which began in 2014 when Houthi rebels seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen. Since then, the conflict has escalated into a humanitarian disaster, with the UN labeling it one of the worst crises in the world today. The Houthis have controlled vast swathes of territory, and their continued detention of aid workers exacerbates the region’s already dire humanitarian needs.
The UN’s repeated calls for the release of detainees, including by officials like World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who visited Sanaa in late 2024, have yet to yield significant results. With the suspension of UN staff movements in Houthi-controlled areas, the situation remains precarious, as both parties seek to navigate the complexities of the conflict and humanitarian aid access in Yemen.
The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to address both the political deadlock and the humanitarian challenges in Yemen.
