UN Staff Held in Yemen: 59 Personnel Detained, UN Alarmed

The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the detention of 59 of its personnel in Yemen. A UN spokesperson confirmed the detentions on Tuesday. Those held include both international and Yemeni national staff members. The UN asserts its personnel have legal immunity. This means they cannot be subject to legal process for acts performed as part of their official duties. The global body stated it is actively seeking their immediate release. It did not specify which authority in Yemen is holding the staff. Yemen is divided between internationally recognized and Houthi-controlled governments. The UN did not attribute the detentions to a specific side in the country's long-running conflict.