The European Union has strongly condemned the additional arbitrary detention of at least 11 UN personnel by the Houthi militias in Yemen in violation of international law.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the EU said it “supports the statement of the UN Secretary General of 01 September 2025 and strongly condemns the additional arbitrary detentions of at least 11 UN personnel by the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the seizure of UN property and attempts to enter the UN premises in Sanaa in violation of International Law and the Vienna Conventions, providing for the inviolability of diplomatic premises at all times.”
The statement called “for the immediate release of all detained personnel.”
It also said that “the EU continues to call for respect of the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and demands that all threats and attacks against commercial vessels are halted.”
According to observers, the latest actions of the Houthis against the UN and humanitarian organizations represent a dangerous escalation that threatens to worsen the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
UN reports say that more than 17 million people in Yemen are in need of assistance.
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani accused the Houthis on Tuesday of turning UN employees into hostages and tools for political extortion.
In a statement, Al-Eryani said that after the Houthis stormed the office of the World Food Program (WFP) in Sanaa, they kidnapped several employees. Then they gathered the rest of the staff, both foreigners and Yemenis, and forced them to sign pledges not to travel without prior authorization, with a commitment to appear whenever summoned.
He also said that the Iran-backed group stormed the server room and confiscated personal phones and computers belonging to the employees, describing what happened as “a blatant violation of the privacy of international organizations and a confirmation of the atmosphere of fear that UN employees live under in areas controlled by the Houthis.”
The minister viewed these practices as nothing but a reflection of the nature of the Houthi project linked to Iran, which is based on imposing guardianship and control over various aspects of political, economic, and humanitarian life.
He added that the group is trying to exploit humanitarian work to serve its coup and to secure additional sources of funding.
