The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced that Houthi rebels in Sana’a decided to release 113 detainees Monday.
In a press release ICRC said that the released were among those regularly visited and assisted by the ICRC in Sana'a, to ensure their humane treatment, adding” We hope this paves the way for further releases, bringing comfort to families eagerly anticipating reunification with their loved ones.”
Daphnee Maret, the ICRC's head of delegation in Yemen said “ We are prepared to extend our humanitarian services to individuals detained in relation to the Yemen conflict and their families and to support their release when authorized by the detaining authorities, as we did today. We also stand ready to serve as a neutral humanitarian intermediary for the simultaneous release and transfer of detainees, should the parties reach an agreement in this regard,"
ICRC press release added: “In line with its established practice, the ICRC conducted private pre-departure interviews with the detainees to confirm their identity and verify if they wished to travel straight from Sana'a to their home or if they wished to be transferred to a location of their choosing.
Alessia Bertelli, the head of the ICRC's protection department in Yemen said: “"We held confidential conversations with all detainees to listen to any concerns they may have about the release process, ensure they have been in contact with their families, and gather the necessary information to follow up on their condition if needed,".