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Immediate Release of Disappeared Humanitarian Workers and the Lifting of All Restrictions on Humanitarian Operations are Urgently Needed
On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19th, Mwatana for Human Rights has called for the immediate release of humanitarian workers who have been unlawfully detained for nearly three months by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group. The organization also urged all parties to the conflict to lift the restrictions imposed on the operations of humanitarian organizations and workers, who have been increasingly constrained and targeted. Mwatana emphasized that the critical role of humanitarian work in alleviating—albeit partially—the severe suffering in Yemen cannot be ignored. After more than nine years of armed conflict, humanitarian assistance remains an indispensable lifeline for millions of Yemenis, especially given the immense challenges the country is currently facing, which demand more robust humanitarian, relief, developmental, and human rights efforts.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, expressed deep concern, stating, "It is deeply saddening that World Humanitarian Day arrives while more than 35 employees of both local and international humanitarian organizations, as well as current and former staff of foreign diplomatic missions, remain in arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, following an unprecedented wave of arrests that began on May 31, 2024."
Al-Mutawakel added, "The targeting of humanitarian workers and organizations risks severing the last remaining connection between the world and Yemenis in areas under the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group control. This situation will undoubtedly have devastating consequences for the vast number of Yemenis who are in dire need of support, particularly as all parties to the conflict have abandoned their responsibilities towards those living under their authority."
Mwatana further highlighted that despite the positive impact of humanitarian efforts in Yemen over the past years, there remains a significant gap between the level of humanitarian needs and the assistance provided. The cumulative suffering endured by Yemenis over the last decade has had catastrophic effects on every sector, particularly on the human condition. The organization called for intensified support and encouragement for humanitarian work at both institutional and individual levels to mitigate the dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which the United Nations describes as the worst in the world.
It is worth noting that all parties to the conflict in Yemen impose restrictions and commit violations against humanitarian organizations. However, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group has increasingly emerged as the most significant violator, tightening bureaucratic measures, obstructing aid delivery, and impeding the work of humanitarian teams in areas under their control. These actions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, which worsens each day as the war drags on, with all sides prioritizing factional interests over the suffering of millions of Yemenis across the conflict zones.
Mwatana for Human Rights urges all parties to the conflict in Yemen to cease harassment and assaults on humanitarian organizations, and to lift all restrictions on the operations of humanitarian institutions and their staff, who work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people. The organization also calls on the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group to urgently release all detained staff of international organizations and to recognize the profound consequences that targeting humanitarian work could have on millions of Yemenis, who are in desperate need of assistance, especially under the harsh conditions that have plagued the country year after year.
