Yemen’s Houthi rebels have raided the United Nations’ Human Rights Office in Sanaa, confiscating documents, furniture, and vehicles, a senior U.N. official reported on Tuesday.
This incident is part of an ongoing crackdown by the Houthis on individuals associated with the U.N., aid organizations, and foreign embassies, amid increased tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The rebels took control of the U.N. Human Rights Office in Sanaa on August 3, compelling U.N. Yemeni staff to surrender possessions, including documents and vehicles, according to U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk.
Türk emphasized that “Ansar Allah forces must vacate the premises and return all items and assets promptly.”
A Houthi spokesperson did not respond to requests for comments through phone calls or messages.
The U.N.’s Human Rights Office has halted its operations in Sanaa and other Houthi-held areas in Yemen following a crackdown in June, while continuing to function in regions controlled by the internationally recognized government.
In June, the Houthis detained over 60 individuals associated with the U.N. and other NGOs, including six U.N. Human Rights Office employees. Some of the detained workers had been held since November 2021 and August 2023.
Following the arrest campaign, the rebels alleged the capture of members linked to an “American-Israeli spy network,” presenting purported confessions by 10 Yemenis, several of whom claimed recruitment by the U.S. Embassy in Yemen.
Additionally, the Houthis have sentenced 44 individuals to death recently as part of escalated suppression of dissent within Yemen.
The conflict in Yemen between the Houthi rebels and Yemen’s internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, has been ongoing since 2014. The war has led to significant casualties and one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises jeopardizing countless lives.
