Yemen’s Houthi Militia Requests Closure of UN Human Rights Office
Yemen’s Houthi militia has asked the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights office in Sanaa to close its operations within three days. This move is part of an escalating crackdown on UN agencies and international organizations in the country. The request was made in a letter from Houthi Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf, but no explanation was given for the closure. Yemeni Human Rights Minister Ahmed Arman revealed that the Houthis intend to shut down offices of foreign organizations that do not provide help or financial support.
The Houthis have been targeting UN agencies, Western missions, and human rights and assistance groups since May. They have abducted more than 70 Yemenis working for these organizations, including nine women. The militia accuses Yemenis working with international organizations of engaging in espionage activities on behalf of the US and Israel, undermining the country’s agricultural, health, and educational sectors.
Arman believes that the recent raids and arrests by the Houthis are part of their agenda to control humanitarian aid by placing loyalists in foreign organizations and silencing dissidents and human rights campaigners. He stated that the Houthis will only keep the offices of organizations that support them, such as the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF.
Arab News reached out to the UN for comment on the closure of the office in Sanaa, but no response has been received yet. Meanwhile, the Houthis have reiterated their threats to target tankers transporting oil from Yemen if the government attempts to restart exports. The Houthi Supreme Economic Committee denied reaching an agreement with the Yemeni government to resume exports from oil terminals in the southern Hadramout and Shabwa provinces.
In late 2022, the Houthis launched drone attacks on oil terminals in Hadramout and Shabwa, effectively halting shipments and depriving the Yemeni government of a key source of income. Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, revealed that the government has lost 70 percent of its revenue due to Houthi attacks on oil facilities. This has hampered the government’s ability to pay salaries and provide vital funds for services like electricity.
There were rumors that the Yemeni government had allowed Yemenia Airways, the country’s main carrier, to increase flights from Houthi-held Sanaa in exchange for the militia ceasing attacks on oil installations. However, the Houthi Supreme Economic Committee denied these claims.
In the midst of these developments, the US Central Command announced that its troops had destroyed a drone in Houthi-held territory. This news comes as international marine agencies reported no Houthi strikes on ships in the last 10 days, indicating a period of calm in the anti-ship campaign.
Since November, the Houthis have launched numerous ballistic missiles, drones, and drone boats at international commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean. The militia claims that these attacks are aimed at pressuring Israel to end hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
The closure of the UN Human Rights office in Sanaa is another concerning development in Yemen’s ongoing conflict. The Houthis’ crackdown on international organizations and their control over humanitarian aid further exacerbate the suffering of the Yemeni people. The international community must continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions to ensure the protection of human rights and the provision of vital assistance to those in need.