Latifa Jamel, President of the American Center for Justice (ACJ), expressed her deep sadness and concern over the Houthi group’s ongoing violations of humanitarian and international laws. She called on the international community to step up and apply real pressure on the Houthis to stop these blatant abuses.

"Jamel" pointed out the Houthis' recent announcement of their intention to launch a new campaign of detaining Yemeni employees working in international human rights and relief organizations as an act of arrogance and disdain for international laws. The tactic of using detainees, both men and women, as political cards to extract concessions from the internationally recognized government in negotiations is unacceptable.

The Houthi group's ongoing campaign of detaining aid workers for political leverage marks a significant escalation against international humanitarian efforts. This behavior not only endangers the safety and security of aid workers but also disrupts the delivery of critical services to millions of Yemenis in desperate need.

Jamel emphasized the need for the international community, including the United Nations and key member states, especially the United States, to take decisive action against these violations. This should include diplomatic pressure, sanctions, and other forms of accountability to force the Houthi movement to cease its aggressive tactics against aid workers.

Additionally, local and international civil society organizations must ramp up their advocacy efforts to keep the plight of these detainees in the global spotlight. Sustained pressure and international solidarity are crucial to securing the release of detained workers and preventing further abuses.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen demands an uninterrupted flow of aid and support. The Houthi group’s actions not only attack humanitarian principles but also inflict grave injustice on the Yemeni people who rely on these services. The international community must act now to safeguard the integrity of humanitarian operations and uphold the fundamental rights of all individuals.