UN Report: 73 Staff Still Arbitrarily Detained by Houthis in Yemen

New York — The United Nations said Wednesday that 73 of its staff remain arbitrarily detained by Houthi militias in Yemen, two years after a wave of arrests that targeted dozens of UN employees, aid workers, and civil society activists. The organization renewed its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees.

Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, stated in a press release that the Secretary-General “again condemns the detention of UN personnel, NGO staff, civil society members, and diplomatic mission employees by Houthi authorities,” including arrest campaigns carried out in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The statement revealed that one UN staff member died in custody, while several others remain in complete isolation without contact, conditions the UN described as violations of international law. It stressed that the detentions have caused severe suffering for families and have seriously restricted the UN’s ability to deliver humanitarian and development assistance to millions across Yemen.

The UN emphasized that its personnel, including Yemeni nationals working for the organization, enjoy immunity from legal proceedings related to their official duties. The Secretary-General reiterated the importance of continuing dialogue with Houthi authorities to secure the release of detainees and resume humanitarian operations, underscoring that humanitarian workers should never be targeted or detained for carrying out their mission.

The UN pledged to continue using all available channels to ensure the safe and immediate release of its staff, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the Yemeni people and their aspirations for a just and lasting peace.