HAMILTON, Canada

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday "strongly" condemned the latest detention of 10 UN personnel by the Houthis in Yemen, bringing the total number of detained staff to 69.

Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news conference that "these detentions render the delivery of UN humanitarian assistance in Houthi-controlled areas untenable," affecting "millions of people in need and limits their access to life-saving assistance."

Guterres, according to Dujarric, also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained personnel from the UN, non-governmental and civil society organizations and diplomatic missions, urging the "Houthis to rescind the referral of UN personnel for prosecution."

"He further calls for the respect of international law, including the privileges and immunities of the UN and its personnel, which are essential to enabling humanitarian action in a secure and principled environment," Dujarric said.

Emphasizing the UN's commitment "to secure the release of all detained UN colleagues," the spokesperson said Guterres "stands in solidarity with the affected families and communities in Yemen."

Yemen fell into a civil war when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of the nation’s capital of Sanaa in 2014. Different groups, including the Houthis, Presidential Leadership Council and Southern Transitional Council, now control distinct parts of the war-torn country.