UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly condemns" the detention of nine more staff members of the organization by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, announced his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, quoted by Reuters and Agence France-Presse, writes BTA.
With the arrests, the total number of United Nations staff members arbitrarily detained by the group since 2021 has now reached 53, world agencies note.
"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the continued arbitrary arrests of his staff and UN partners, as well as the ongoing illegal confiscation of property and seizure of the organization's premises," Dujarric said.
The Iran-backed movement of the Yemeni Houthi rebels, officially called "Ansar Allah", stormed UN premises in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and detained at least 18 staff members after the Israeli strike in late August this year, which killed the Prime Minister of the Houthi government, Ahmed al-Saud. Rahawi and several ministers, Reuters recalls.
"The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all his staff who are detained. They must be respected and protected in accordance with international law," Dujarric said.