The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the storming of the UN Human Rights office in Yemen in a press release on Tuesday. The office in Sana’a, the capital city of Yemen, was stormed on August 3rd, after an earlier storming in June, resulting in the detainment of 11 UN personnel, whose unconditional release was called for by Türk. The rebels still control the premises after forcing the staff to hand over documents and vehicles.

The High Commissioner previously called for the release of detained personnel, stating, “Entering a UN office without permission and seizing documents and property by force is wholly inconsistent with the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. This is also a serious attack on the ability of the UN to perform its mandate, including with respect to the promotion and protection of human rights..”

The Houthi rebels have also been responsible for the detainment of two other staff members of the UN Human Rights Office, one detained in 2021 and the other in 2023, neither of whom have been returned. One staff member has also been forced to confess to espionage in videos that have been published online. While the UN has been attempting to obtain the safe return of the staff being held incommunicado, there has been no progress, despite the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, also calling for their return.

The storming comes amid the Houthi attacks upon commercial ships in the Red Sea, with UN Security Council adopting a resolution to demand an end to the aggression. The attacks are allegedly being conducted as a sign of support for Gaza, with Israel-associated ships being attacked as they continue to wage war in the area.

Due to the detainment and serious concerns over safety, the Office of the High Commissioner has decided to temporarily stop its operations in Sana’a.