On 6 June 2024, UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres condemned the death of Mohammed Ibrahim al‑Shami, an Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) staffer, who died while in the custody of Houthi authorities in Yemen.
Guterres, speaking in a statement on the US social‑media platform X, said he was “appalled” by the killing of al‑Shami and called the death “appalling.” He added that al‑Shami had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis since 6 June 2024 and that his death followed that of World Food Programme staffer Ahmed Ba’alawi, who had died on 11 February 2025 after being held since 23 January 2025.
In the same statement, Guterres expressed “gravely concerned” for the safety and well‑being of UN personnel, former UN staff and humanitarian and civil‑society workers who remain detained. He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to protecting staff in conflict zones.
AMHRI, the Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration, also condemned al‑Shami’s death, calling it a “tragic loss” and underscoring the urgent need to safeguard UN personnel operating in Yemen.
The incident underscores the continued risks humanitarian workers face amid Yemen’s long‑standing conflict, which began in 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital, Sanaa, sparking a Saudi‑led intervention in 2015 and leading to a humanitarian crisis that has left millions dependent on relief efforts.
