Houthi insurgent fighters march throughout a rally in assist of Palestinians within the Gaza Strip and towards U.S. strikes in Yemen exterior Sanaa. File picture. Photograph credit score: AP
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have stormed the headquarters of the UN Human Rights Workplace within the capital Sanaa, seizing paperwork, furnishings and autos, a senior UN official mentioned on Tuesday (13 August 2024).
The seize was the newest Houthi crackdown on folks working with the UN, assist businesses and international embassies. In June, the Houthis detained greater than 60 folks working with the UN and different NGOs, based on the UN Human Rights Workplace. The crackdown comes at a time when Iran-backed rebels have been attacking ships throughout the Pink Sea hall because of the conflict between Israel and Hamas within the Gaza Strip.
Rebels seized the premises of the UN Human Rights Workplace in Sanaa on August 3, after forcing Yemeni UN staff handy over their belongings, together with paperwork, furnishings and autos, UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk mentioned in a press release.
“Ansar Allah forces should depart the realm and return all property and belongings instantly,” mentioned Türk, utilizing the Houthis’ official title.
A Houthi spokesman didn’t reply to telephone calls or messages searching for remark.
The UN human rights workplace mentioned it had suspended operations in Sanaa and different Houthi-controlled Yemeni areas following the June crackdown, however was persevering with to function in areas of Yemen managed by the internationally recognised authorities.
