The United Nations is calling for the urgent release of 118 of its staff members currently being held across different parts of the world, raising fresh concerns about the growing risks faced by humanitarian workers.
In a statement marking the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that attacks against UN personnel have surged sharply. Reports show that 179 staff members have been arrested or detained in 2025 alone, a steep rise from just 52 cases recorded earlier in March.
Yemen remains the most affected, with 73 UN workers still in detention under the control of Houthi authorities. Among them are staff from the UN’s human rights office, highlighting the scale and sensitivity of the situation.
Guterres stressed that every detained colleague matters and must not be forgotten. He urged governments to respect international law and ensure humanitarian workers can operate safely and without interference. According to him, those serving on the frontlines of global crises deserve protection and support, not hostility.
Across conflict zones like Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN personnel continue to work under extremely dangerous conditions, delivering aid to vulnerable populations despite rising threats.
President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, also condemned the detentions, describing them as clear violations of human rights and international law. She noted that such actions disrupt critical humanitarian efforts and delay life-saving assistance for millions of people in need. She maintained that UN workers should never be targets, as they risk their lives daily to support struggling communities.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, raised further alarm over the situation in Yemen, revealing that some staff have been held for as long as five years. He described their continued detention as deeply unjust, adding that the emotional toll on both the victims and their families is severe.
Türk called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN staff in Yemen, insisting that no personnel should face arrest or charges simply for carrying out humanitarian duties on behalf of the people.
He also paid tribute to thousands of UN workers operating in some of the world’s toughest environments, acknowledging their commitment to helping communities caught in conflict and crisis.
The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is observed in memory of Alec Collett, a former journalist working with the UN refugee agency who was abducted in 1985. His remains were later discovered in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009.
The day serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by humanitarian workers and aims to push for stronger action, accountability, and protection, not just for UN personnel but also for workers in non-governmental organisations and members of the press.
