Yemen: UN chief demands release of aid workers held by Houthis

Heads of United Nations entities and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) on Saturday renewed urgent calls for the immediate release of their staff arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen, amid reports that some of them may now face “criminal prosecution”.

Flags at all UN offices in Yemen are flying at half-mast this week following the death of a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member who had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities in the north since last month.

The UN has launched an operational review in Afghanistan, and told national staff to remain at home, following the decision by the Taliban de facto authorities to ban Afghan women from working with the Organization.