The arrest campaign launched by the Houthi rebels in mid-2024 was not limited to relief workers, activists, and employees of diplomatic missions in Yemen, but rather included the arrest of many of their officials in ministries and institutions under their control, according to UN Assistant Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Julien Harneis
Haeneis, speaking in an event at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in London, said that the United Nations issued more than 50 statements against the detention of aid workers in Sanaa, while he engaged in direct talks with the Houthies in Sanaa.
Harness rejected calls to cut off relief to areas under the group's control, and said that humanitarian work is based on United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 59, which obligates UN agencies to work in areas of humanitarian crises around the world.He explained that more than 65% of UN employees work in areas under the Houthies control, pointing out that calls to stop United Nations activities in northern Yemen are “unacceptable,” as he put it, adding that none of the Yemeni residents under the control of the parties chose this willingly.
Harness admitted that less than 10% of the United Nations budget in northern Yemen is related to development projects compared to relief, pointing out that the shift from relief to development depends on the government in Yemen and this is something difficult to discuss with the Houthis, adding that development needs the lowest degree of governance. The political context is absent in the areas controlled by the Houthi group.
The UN official did not respond clearly to the criticisms related to the organization in Yemen related to the mahram ( male Companion) condition imposed by the Houthi group on female aid workers, or the dual role of major powers related to selling weapons to coalition countries on the one hand, and financing humanitarian relief operations on the other hand.