By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN agencies and NGOs on Wednesday called for the immediate and unconditional release of scores of colleagues who have been arbitrarily detained in Yemen for over 100 days.
They said that more than 50 personnel from the UN, international and national NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions are being held by the de facto Houthi authorities in Sana’a.
And 4 UN staff members have been detained since 2021 and 2023.
“Attacks on humanitarian workers, including detentions and false accusations, violate international law, endanger safety, and severely hinder the support we provide to the Yemeni people and mediation efforts crucial for advancing the peace process in Yemen,” the officials said in a statement.
They stressed that all detained colleagues must be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights, including being allowed to contact their families, legal representatives, and organizations.
“We also call for the protection of humanitarian workers, ensuring safe humanitarian space and access to communities we serve,” they added.
The statement was issued by regional directors for CARE, Oxfam and Save the Children, the UN human rights office; the UNDP, UNHCR; UNICEF, WHO and the WFP.
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