Condemnation of Houthi Seizure of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Headquarters in Sana’a

The United States strongly condemns the Houthi seizure of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) headquarters in Sana'a, Yemen. The storming and takeover of the OHCHR headquarters in Sana'a by Houthi militants violates international norms. It further demonstrates that the Houthis have no respect for the most basic international practices. This is just one more step in an aggressive series of Houthi actions including detentions of UN, international organization, and diplomatic personnel working to help the Yemeni people. These actions will further obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemenis who have endured crisis conditions for far too long.

The United States continues to support a negotiated peace in Yemen under UN auspices and strongly supports the work of the OHCHR and other agencies and organizations bringing relief to the Yemeni people. But there can be no sustainable solution to Yemen's conflict as long as the Houthis insist on attacking international ships and threatening their neighbors and the Yemeni people.