Iran -backed Huti rebels conducted a coordinated raid on the United Nations (UN) offices in Yemen’s capital Sana on Sunday and took at least 11 employees into custody. These employees are related to the United Nations Food, Health and Children’s Acids.
This action took place in a sudden and planned manner, which has increased the tension in the capital. The special thing is that this raid took place at a time when Israel has recently killed Hooti Prime Minister and many cabinet ministers in an airstrikes. Since this attack, the huts have tightened the security system in the entire city.
UN angel strongly criticized arrest
Hans Gruundberg, a special messenger for the United Nations Yemen, described the move as an arbitrary arrest and said that it is a direct attack on human working organizations. He said, “I strongly condemn the arrest of UN employees in Sana and Hodeda and forcibly seizing the goods. At least 11 UN employees are taken into custody. It is absolutely unacceptable.”
He also said that Huti rebels should release all these employees immediately and unconditionally.
Which agencies targeted?
Huti security forces first raided the office of World Food Program – WFP. An employee was arrested from there and then more people from different places were also detained. In addition, the World Health Organization (World Health Organization – WHO) and UNICEF offices were also targeted. Armed entered the rebel offices and interrogated the employees in the parking area. After this, he seized UN property and necessary documents.
UNICEF spokesman Ammar Ammar also confirmed that many of his employees were detained. After this, WFP and Unicef ​​announced that they would count all their employees, so that they can find out how many people are missing.
Pattern of increasing action
Sunday’s arrests are the latest link to the action of Huti rebels on UN and other human organizations. In the previous years, dozens of UN employees, aid workers and people associated with civil society have been taken into custody without any reason or legal process.
In January, the UN had to stop its operation in plain (North Huti Garh), when eight UN employees were detained. The rebels have now targeted local employees associated with the US embassy which has now been closed in Sana.
The hostile policy of the huts towards international organizations has disrupted the supply of humanitarian aid in Yemen, where millions of people are struggling with a huge shortage of hunger and health facilities due to war.
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