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Yemen: Renewed call for release of UN and NGO staff detained by Ansar Allah

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Press release
Geneva – July 17, 2024

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Jeremy Laurence has expressed grave concern over the continued detention of 13 UN staff members and several NGO employees by the de facto Ansar Allah authorities in Yemen. Despite repeated requests, access to the detainees has been denied.

Particular concern is directed towards two UN staff members who have been in prolonged detention, one since November 2021 and the other since August 2023. The UN has emphatically rejected the allegations against their staff, which were publicly broadcast, and is urging the authorities in Sana’a to release the detainees immediately and unconditionally.

“We emphatically reject the shocking allegations, publicly broadcast, levelled against our staff, and we urge the de facto authorities in Sana’a to immediately and unconditionally release them,” a UN spokesperson stated.

The UN has called on states and entities with influence over Ansar Allah to secure the safe and prompt release of all detained UN and NGO staff. There is significant concern regarding the conditions under which the detainees are being held. The UN has stressed the importance of ensuring that the detained individuals are treated with full respect for their human rights, including the ability to contact their families and legal representatives.
“It is crucial that the de facto authorities ensure that those detained are treated with full respect for their human rights, and that they are able to contact their families and legal representatives,” the spokesperson added.

The UN has also called for an immediate end to the targeting of human rights and humanitarian workers in Yemen, highlighting the detrimental impact on the humanitarian efforts in the region.

The situation remains critical, and the international community is urged to take action to facilitate the release of the detained staff and ensure their well-being. The continued detention of these individuals poses a significant threat to the ongoing humanitarian operations in Yemen.

For more information and media requests or inquiries, please get in touch with us (+41229403538 / media@cfjustice.org)

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