[16/08/2024 04:28]

NEW YORK-SABA
The UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg said that the Houthis' closure of the UN human rights office in Sana'a and its storming on August 3 is an ominous signal of the broader direction the Houthis are taking and represents a serious attack on the ability of the UN to perform its mandate.

In his briefing at the UN Security Council session, he said "The protection of human rights is primarily about protecting the future of Yemen and the rights and freedoms of Yemenis, as dozens of men and women, including 13 UN staff, are still detained in unknown locations."

He added "Let them return to their jobs serving Yemenis, providing humanitarian and development aid, peace building, human rights, mediation and protecting cultural heritage".

Grundberg reiterated his call on the Yemeni parties, particularly Houthis to give top priority to the Yemenis and get solutions to the country's problems.

Grundberg noted that the Yemeni parties, backed by Saudi Arabia, managed to stop a dangerous cycle of escalation that was negatively affecting the banking and transport sectors in Yemen and threatened to spark renewed military conflict.

At the end of his briefing, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen stressed that his Office remains determined to keep all channels open on the economy, a nationwide ceasefire and other security arrangements, the political process and the release of conflict-related detainees.

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