Jean Alam, a spokesman for the UN resident coordinator for Yemen, said Houthi security forces entered the UN compound in Sanaa. He told The Associated Press there were 15 UN international staff members in the facility at the time of the raid, and that “according to the latest information, all staff in the compound are safe and accounted for and have contacted their families.”
The rebels raided UN offices in Sanaa on 31 August and detained 19 employees, according to the UN. They later released the deputy director of the UNICEF office in the country but still hold more than 50 people, including many associated with aid groups, civil society, and the now-closed U.S. Embassy in Sanaa.
“The United Nations is taking all necessary measures and is in contact with the relevant authorities and counterparts to ensure the safety and security of all personnel and property,” Alam said.
Another UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the raid, said the building is operated by the UN. The employees belong to multiple UN agencies, including the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the official.
In response, Houthi officials defended their actions, claiming that the raid was necessary to confront what they described as "unfair practices" by the UN regarding the distribution of aid.
They accused the organisation of favouring certain factions in Yemen and argued that their actions were aimed at reclaiming what they perceived as misallocated resources.
The crackdown forced the UN to suspend its operations in the Houthi stronghold of Saada province in northern Yemen following the detention of eight staffers in January.
The UN also relocated its top humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from Sanaa to the coastal city of Aden, which serves as the seat for the internationally recognised government.
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