Guterres expresses shock over death of UN staffer in Houthi custody
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday expressed his shock over the death of a UN staff member while in detention by the Houthi de facto authorities in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.
The Secretary-General's spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement that Guterres expressed his shock and condemnation over the death of his colleague, Mohammed Al-Shami, who worked for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, while in Houthi detention.
The statement clarified that Al-Shami had been arbitrarily detained since June 2024, noting that the de facto authorities had provided no information about his safety or proof that he was alive, despite repeated requests from the United Nations.
It added that the international organization is urgently seeking answers from the de facto authorities regarding the circumstances of his death, calling for an immediate, impartial, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The statement noted that this is the second death of a UN staff member in Houthi custody, following the death of a World Food Programme employee in February 2025.
Guterres reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN, humanitarian, and civil society personnel in Yemen, including 70 UN staff members and five of its former employees.
Source: Al-Mahriah Net + open sources
