Al-Mukalla (South24 Center)

A Human Rights Watch report (September 8) said that the number of UN staff detained by the Houthis, during their August 31 raid on UN offices in Sanaa, may be higher than the figure of 19 quoted by the UN.

Quoting informed sources, Human Rights Watch also said that “several UN staff members were detained and interrogated for several days inside UN offices” by the Iran-backed militia.

Initially, the UN said that the Houthis had detained 11 of their staff during the raid on UN offices in Sanaa, and later (on Sep 3) upped the figure to 19, including 18 Yemenis and one international employee, with demands for their immediate release.

The UN, while condemning the detention of their staff, said it would "hinder humanitarian work and intensify international concern regarding Houthi conduct”, noting that the action threatens hundreds of thousands of Yemenis who rely on aid for survival.

HRW sources confirmed to the organization that the detainees were denied regular contact with their families or lawyers, and that the Houthis have presented no concrete evidence to support their allegations of espionage.

The Houthi action came three days after the August 28 Israeli airstrikes on the militia-controlled Yemeni capital Sana'a in which their unrecognized Prime Minister Ahmed Al-Rahwi and several ministers were killed.

HRW also said that under international humanitarian law, civilian government officials do not constitute legitimate military targets unless directly participating in hostilities — which condition appeared unsubstantiated in the killing of Al-Rahwi.

It said that the Houthis have sought to exploit Israeli attacks to justify an escalation of their repression in areas under their control, including targeting relief workers they have long accused of espionage.

The arrest of UN staff and local civil organization employees had previously prompted the UN to suspend their work in Saada governorate earlier this year.

HRW said that amid the dire humanitarian condition of the Yemenis, with most lacking sufficient food and water, the Houthis' detention of UN staff is “catastrophic”, not only for the detainees and their families, but also for the general population who rely on the UN and other organizations for the aid they desperately need.

It said that the conflict parties have continued imposing war costs on the civilians throughout more than 11 years of the conflict.

The recent arrests risk undermining relief operations and deepening the humanitarian suffering nationwide.