The UN spokesman Jean Alam on Sunday said that Houthis have detained the organisation’s staff in the country’s capital, Sanaa.
The rebel group has accused aid workers of spying for Israel and the United States, allegations that the UN has repeatedly denied. Detaining and blaming UN staffers for helping militant groups and spying for other countries has become a norm in parts of the Middle East.
These allegations have often emerged from nations including Iran, Israel, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and Syria, countries where the United Nations is actively involved in humanitarian works.
Alam said that 20 workers of several UN agencies, including 16 foreign nationals, were detained during a raid on the organisation’s compound in the Hada district.
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He added that 11 others were released after questioning. According to sources, the rebel group has detained UNICEF’s envoy in Yemen, Peter Hawkins, along with others.
They said the Houthis took away all the electronic devices, including computers and phones. “The UN is in contact with the Houthis and other parties to resolve this serious situation as swiftly as possible, end the detention of all personnel, and restore full control over its facilities in Sanaa,” Alam said.
In a televised address on Saturday, Houthi chief Abdul Malik al-Houthi claimed that the group has dismantled what they described as a dangerous espionage network linked to the CIA and Mossad.
This is not an isolated incident of Houthis detaining the UN staffers; however, the allegations this time are severe and could potentially result in death if any of the staffers are found guilty of the charges.
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