Muscat – António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG), expressed his deep appreciation to Oman for its efforts that led to resolving a situation involving several UN staff in Yemen. He praised the humanitarian and diplomatic role played by the sultanate in supporting the UN’s endeavours to promote peace and stability in Yemen.

This was conveyed to H E Sayyid Badr al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, when the two held a telephone conversation on Monday.

The call discussed developments in Yemen and the UN’s ongoing efforts to support the peace process and address humanitarian challenges.

The conversation also touched on developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, with both sides underscoring the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring the unhindered flow of relief and humanitarian aid.

The UN team in Yemen confirmed on Monday that all personnel previously restricted inside the UN compound in the capital Sanaa were free, after days of limited movement and detentions.

‘All 15 UN international staff are now free… and are in contact with their respective UN entities and families,’ the team said in a written update on the situation in the capital.

The UN also confirmed the release of personnel detained by Houthis, stating, ‘The five national staff who had been detained since October 18 within the same UN compound have been released. Security personnel of (Houthi group) Ansar Allah have vacated the UN compound in Sanaa.’

The statement follows an incident on Saturday in which Houthi forces stormed a UN residential compound in Sanaa and detained UN staff.

Yemen remains mired in one of the world’s worst humanitarian and economic crises, fuelled by nearly a decade of war between government forces and the Houthis. The war has claimed over 150,000 lives.