Twenty-five human rights organizations demand clarity on the fate of forcibly disappeared individuals from Hajour held by Houthi militants.

Human Rights Organizations Demand Action on Abducted Individuals in Yemen

Call for Urgent Action

Twenty-five human rights organizations have urged the United Nations and its envoy to Yemen to exert maximum pressure on the Houthi militia, classified as a terrorist group, to reveal the fate of individuals abducted and forcibly disappeared from Hajour in northern Hajjah province. These individuals have been missing for six years, and the organizations insist on their immediate and unconditional release, labeling this issue as a pressing humanitarian priority.

Responsibility of the Houthi Militia

During a solidarity event organized by the Hajour Victims Association in Marib, the statement emphasized that the Houthi militia bears full responsibility for the safety and well-being of the missing individuals. The families of these victims endure ongoing suffering, caught in a cycle of grief and despair due to the loss of their loved ones and the lack of basic living conditions.

The Reality of Forced Disappearances

The statement highlighted that the forced disappearances perpetrated by the Houthi militia are not mere statistics or fleeting incidents. Instead, they represent a continuous stream of pain and suffering experienced by the missing individuals in secret detention facilities. Their families face a devastating wait marked by loss, deprivation, and ongoing humanitarian crises. The organizations called for support for these families and urged the provision of psychological assistance to help them cope with the trauma of enforced disappearances.

Criticism of International Silence

The human rights organizations criticized the international community’s silence regarding these serious violations, deeming it an unacceptable complicity that encourages the Houthi militia to continue its crimes. They asserted that the issue of forcibly disappeared individuals from Hajour and elsewhere constitutes a humanitarian crime that will not fade with time. This matter will remain alive and active in various initiatives until the victims are revealed and reunited with their families.

Local Support for Victims’ Families

During the event, which coincided with the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Hajjah Governor Abdul Karim Harmas expressed the local authority’s support for all efforts aimed at uncovering the fate of the forcibly disappeared individuals from Hajjah. He praised the bravery of the Hajour community in confronting the Houthi militia, affirming the justice of their cause and the necessity of its eventual triumph.

Voices from the Community

Speeches were delivered by representatives from the Hajour Victims Association, including Mohammed Al-Saeedi, and by human rights organizations, represented by Fahmi Al-Zubairi. Family members of the victims shared their harrowing experiences, detailing the suffering endured by families of the missing individuals in secret prisons. They criticized the international community’s complacency towards the Houthi militia, which has emboldened them to the extent of abducting and disappearing UN employees without any response from the United Nations.

This ongoing situation highlights the urgent need for international attention and action to address the plight of the forcibly disappeared individuals in Yemen.

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