Yemen’s Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights Ahmed Arman confirmed Tuesday that the Iran-backed Houthi militias have been detaining two UN humanitarian workers since 2021
One works for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) and the other in the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Arman told the Arab World Press (AWP)
“We are working with the United Nations to resolve this major problem,” he said, while denying that any international workers have been harassed or detained in government-held regions.
Moreover, he accused the Houthis of obstructing the work of UN and international organizations, saying they are being harassed, threatened and arbitrarily detained.
Arman said the Houthis often harass or detain aid workers for failing to comply with the militias’ orders or over differences with Houthi “supervisors”.
The Houthis accuse the workers of adopting “ideologies that contradict theirs,” he added.
In addition, some workers have even been barred from entering Sanaa, which is held by the militias, he revealed.
Since December 2021 to this day, they have prevented more than 15 international foreign workers, including representative of the UNHCR in Yemen, from entering Sanaa, he said.
Last week, Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen David Gressly called on all Yemeni parties to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers.
He said continuing misinformation and disinformation campaigns are adding to the challenges of aid workers.
On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day celebrated on August 19, the official said violence against aid workers and their restricted movements are a stark reminder about the challenges and dangers humanitarians face in Yemen.
Last month, World Food Program staff Moayad Hameidi was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Turbah, Taiz in southwest Yemen.
Arman criticized the “soft” approach adopted by the UN in handling the harassment faced by humanitarian workers in Houthi-held regions.
He remarked that had the Yemeni government been accused of arresting the workers or impeding their work, “we would have seen a different position, but when it comes to the Houthis, they are soft and seek appeasement.”
Last week, US Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said those who attack and kill humanitarian workers must be held accountable.
“Houthi attacks are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. We strongly condemn these senseless attacks, which impede much-needed oil export avenues that fund basic services,” she said.
