The United Nations (UN) is calling on the Houthis in Yemen to let detained aid workers go, after a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member died in their custody earlier this year. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as deeply unfair and demanded a clear explanation, along with an open investigation into what happened.
Guterres made it clear that aid workers shouldn’t be arrested or targeted while helping people in need. He warned that these detentions are making it harder for the UN and its partners to give much-needed support in Yemen, and are setting back efforts to secure peace.
Making his appeal during the Eid Al-Adha holiday, Guterres asked for compassion and urged the Houthis to let all those held go free—especially those detained since 2021, 2023, and January 2025. He spoke directly to the families who face another holiday without their loved ones, promising that “You are not forgotten.” The UN, he said, will keep working every possible avenue to secure their safe release.
Guterres also thanked international partners, NGOs, and everyone supporting Yemen’s people, and encouraged governments to ramp up pressure for the release of all detained humanitarian workers.
As of late May 2025, humanitarian organizations and rights groups report that at least 50 staff from United Nations agencies and Yemeni and international civil society organizations remain arbitrarily detained by Houthi authorities in Yemen. This figure does not include only UN staff but also workers from local and international NGOs, and specifically refers to those arrested since May 2024 and who have not been released.
