Yemeni Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muammar Al-Eryani strongly condemned the campaign launched by Houthi militias against United Nations employees and affiliated agencies. The campaign recently targeted UN offices in Sana’a and several other areas forcibly controlled by the militias.

Al-Eryani stated in a statement broadcast by Yemen TV on Sunday that confirmed information indicates that the Houthi militia stormed the World Food Programme headquarters in Sana’a, kidnapped two of its employees, detained the rest inside, and imposed house arrest on UN staff at their homes. Additionally, the UNICEF security guards were kidnapped, and a similar arrest campaign was launched against employees in Al Hudaydah governorate, with the full extent still unclear.

Al-Eryani pointed out that these serious violations come amid the continued detention of dozens of UN and international organization employees, the UN envoy’s office, and foreign embassies by the militias. This represents a continuation of their policy of mistreating humanitarian and relief workers, in blatant defiance of international humanitarian law and all international norms and treaties.

He noted that the Yemeni government had repeatedly warned about the dangers of international organizations operating in areas under Houthi control and called for relocating their offices to the temporary capital, Aden, where a safe and stable environment ensures the continuation of their humanitarian services away from pressure and blackmail.

The Yemeni Minister of Information called on the international community to assume its responsibilities regarding these criminal practices and to act immediately to ensure the safety of all UN staff. He urged the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries worldwide to take practical steps to classify the Houthi militia as a global terrorist organization and to cut off its funding sources, putting an end to its systematic violations against the Yemeni people and humanitarian workers.