condemnation statement on detention of UN personnel working in Sana’a.

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  Eradah Organization to Combat Torture and Forced Disappearance condemns the campaign of arrests of Houthis terrorist militia on thursday Jan 23, 2025, arbitrarily detaining 5 workers of WFP and 2 others working for UNICIF, in addition to raiding WFP stores, looting the inside food supplies belonging to the civilians beneficiaries and staff tools. 

The number of detainees of those series of abduction and arbitrary detention of the workers of UN and international Orgs, carried by Houthis terrorist militia for months, is 76 persons. They were detained in infamous Houthis Security and Intelligence Prison in Sana’a, where they were subjected to ill-treatment and others to torture. In flagrant violation of international law and falsifying facts, Houthis deliberately portrayed them to society as spies working for USA, UK and Israel. Houthis arrogance and terrorism led to UN declaration on friday Jan 24, 2025 to suspended all official movements into and within areas under Houthis authorities' control after more of its staff were detained by the Iran-backed fighters. 

UN Office in Sana’a said in a press statement that “Yesterday, the de facto authorities in Sana’a detained additional UN personnel working in areas under their control. To ensure the security and safety of all its staff, the United Nations has suspended all official movements into and within areas under the de facto authorities’ control. This measure will remain in place until further notice.”

 We, Eradah Organization, strongly denounce and condemn those actions contrary to international conventions and treaties. We also denounce the continued violations against human rights, hoping safety for all detainees. 

In our meeting in Geneva, Eradah Org told OHCHR to move all of its offices from Houthis controlled areas to Aden which controlled by legitimate gov’t, but they refused the proposal responding that they would keep on working from Sana’a due to the population density.

   These abduction and arbitrary detention of UN workers could cause the world's worst humanitarian crisis due to stopping the humanitarian assistance to the civilians and creating catastrophic situation of millions of Yemenis. 

We, Eradah Organization, call Houthis terrorist militia for immediate and unconditional release of UN workers, holding them the accountable for the detainees lives. We also call UN, the Security Council and international community for fast move to release all workers of UN and international organizations and put an end to the unethical practices of Houthis terrorist militia, demanding to hold criminals the accountable to ensure that they won't go unpunished. 

Issued by Eradah Organization to Combat Torture and Forced Disappearance

Friday 24 of Jan 2025