Sanaa:New York UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep dismay over the death of a UN staff member while in the custody of Houthi authorities in Yemen.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shami, an employee of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), had been detained by the Houthis since June 6, 2024. This marks the second death of a UN staff member in Houthi detention, following the death of a World Food Program (WFP) staff member in February 2025.

Guterres, in a statement on the US social media platform X, highlighted his grave concerns for the safety of UN personnel and others who remain detained. The first UN staff member to die in Houthi detention, Ahmed Ba'alawi, a national staff member of the World Food Program, had been detained since January 23, 2025, and passed away on February 11 of the same year.

Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since 2014 when Houthi forces took control of the capital, Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led military intervention in March 2015. The ongoing conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions reliant on aid.