The United Nations has called for an urgent, independent investigation into the death of one of its employees while in the custody of Yemen’s Houthi authorities, raising fresh concerns over the treatment and safety of detained humanitarian and UN personnel.

Mohammad el-Shami, who worked with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Yemen, died more than a month ago while being held in detention. However, his family was informed of his death only recently, according to a UN statement issued on Saturday.

The Houthi authorities have not disclosed the circumstances surrounding his death.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed serious concern over the incident, saying el-Shami’s family deserved to know the truth. He called on the Houthi leadership to provide full transparency and cooperate with an urgent, independent and comprehensive investigation.

Türk also raised concerns about seven other OHCHR employees who were detained alongside el-Shami and remain in Houthi custody. He renewed the UN’s demand for their immediate and unconditional release.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres separately condemned the death, describing himself as appalled by the development. He said the United Nations was urgently seeking answers from the Houthi authorities regarding the circumstances of the employee’s death and supported calls for a thorough investigation.

UN employees detained over alleged espionage

El-Shami had been held by the Houthis since June 2024, when the group detained him and dozens of other individuals working with the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations.

The Houthi authorities accused those detained of involvement in an alleged American-Israeli intelligence network. The allegations have raised serious concerns among international organizations, which have repeatedly called for the release of personnel detained without due process.

The UN has confirmed that 72 of its employees and NGO workers, including el-Shami, have been detained by the group.

His death marks the second reported case of a UN employee dying in Houthi detention. A World Food Programme (WFP) employee died while in custody in February 2025.

UN operations affected by security concerns

The growing number of detentions has significantly affected the United Nations’ ability to operate in areas controlled by the Houthis.

In February 2025, the organization suspended operations in parts of Houthi-controlled Yemen because of increasing concerns about the safety of its personnel.

The Houthis have previously broadcast television appearances of some detained individuals, portraying them as alleged collaborators with Western intelligence agencies and Israel.

In a separate development, the United Nations announced on October 6 that a World Food Programme employee had been released after being held in what the organization described as arbitrary detention.

The latest death has intensified international concerns about the treatment of humanitarian workers in Yemen. The United Nations is pressing Houthi authorities to disclose what happened to el-Shami, investigate his death and release the remaining detained employees.