UN agencies, NGOs concerned over staff held by Houthis

UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Oct 12 expressed "grave concern" over the referral for criminal prosecution of a large number of their staff who have been "arbitrarily detained" by Yemen's Houthi rebels, and renewed calls for their immediate release.

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The Iran-backed Houthis have detained dozens of staff from the UN and other humanitarian organisations, most of them since June, claiming they are members of a "US-Israeli spy network", a charge the UN denies.

"We are extremely concerned about the reported referral to 'criminal prosecution' by the Houthi de facto authorities of a significant number of arbitrarily detained colleagues," said a statement signed by principals of affected UN entities and international NGOs.

The Houthi authorities have not issued any announcement in this regard.