Statement on the release of UN personnel held in captivity

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, made the following statement today:

I welcome the release this week of the five UN personnel who were kidnapped in the southern governorate of Abyan on 11 February 2022.

Our four national and one international colleagues spent 18 months in captivity. I was extremely pleased to see for myself that the four Yemeni colleagues were in good health when I flew with them to Aden from Mukalla today.

All five of our staff are receiving support. They are in good spirits and are in contact with their families.

I thank the Government of Yemen and all others that helped to secure the release of our UN colleagues and contributed to ensuring their health during such a long time in captivity.

While the entire UN family in Yemen is relieved that our colleagues are free, we also recall other UN staff are still held against their will in Yemen. We stand in solidarity with them.

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