Yemen Monitor/ Newsroom
A UN official said on Tuesday that the Houthi group had raided and seized the UN Human Rights Office in Sanaa, confiscating documents, furniture, and office vehicles.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in a statement posted on the commission’s official website that “unauthorized entry into a UN office and the forcible seizure of documents and property are in complete violation of the UN Convention on the Privileges and Immunities.”
He pointed out that this “also constitutes a serious attack on the UN’s ability to carry out its mandate, including with regard to promoting and protecting human rights, which my office defends,” adding: “The Ansar Allah forces must leave the building immediately and return all assets and property.”
The statement indicated that on August 3, “Houthi authorities sent a delegation to the UN Human Rights Office in Sanaa, which forced local staff to hand over their property, including documents, furniture, and vehicles, as well as office keys. They still control the office today.”
Türk said, “I am sorry that none of our appeals have been heard,” reiterating his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff detained in Yemen.”
He stressed, saying, “It is imperative that the de facto authorities respect the United Nations and its independence, release all its detained staff immediately, and create conditions that enable my office and other UN agencies to continue their critical work serving the Yemeni people and free from any threats or obstacles.”
Following the arrests in June, and given the security situation, the High Commissioner decided to temporarily suspend the office’s operations in Sanaa and other areas under Houthi control, according to the statement.
At the beginning of the previous month, the Houthi group had detained 13 UN staff members, including six working for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in addition to more than 50 workers in various non-governmental organizations and a person working in an embassy.
