Sanaa (South24)

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Humanitarian organization Save the Children today announced the suspension of its activities in North Yemen following the death of its security and safety official, Hisham Al-Hakimi, nearly two months after his arrest in the Houthi-controlled city of Sanaa. 

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, the organization said: “We are devastated to confirm the death of the Director of the Security and Safety Department in our organization, Hisham Al-Hakimi. Hisham was a dedicated member of the Save the Children family since 2006. Hisham's commitment to Save the Children’s mission in Yemen will be forever remembered.”

URGENT: Following the devastating news of the death of our colleague Hisham Al-Hakimi in detention in #Yemen. We're urgently calling for an independent investigation. Due to these circumstances, we're temporarily suspending operations in northern Yemen. https://t.co/xOEBPNeNuw

— Save the Children Yemen (@SaveChildrenYE) October 26, 2023

“We're urgently calling for an independent investigation. Due to these circumstances, we're temporarily suspending operations in [North] Yemen," it added.

An expanded statement released by the organization on its website indicated that Al-Hakimi had been arrested in Sanaa on September 9th, outside of his working hours with the organization.

The statement said: "Despite repeated attempts by his family, legal representation and Save the Children’s teams, no one was able to see or speak with him throughout the entire period of his detention."

"No charges or legal proceedings were filed by authorities or reasons given for his detention in Sanaa," it added.

The statement explained that Save the Children "has been working in Yemen since 1963, implementing programs in education, child protection, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and emergency response across most of the country."

So far, the Houthis have not issued any official statement regarding the incident.

Yesterday, the Minister of Information in the internationally recognized government, Muammar Al-Eryani, criticized Save the Children’s failure to clearly indicate the Houthis’ responsibility for Al-Hakimi’s death.

He said on X: “It is regrettable and shameful that your organization did not condemn the murder and clearly point out the killers.”

It is regrettable and shameful that your organization did not condemn the murder and clearly point out the killers, and portray the matter as if it were a natural death or due illness or a traffic accident.
Such weak positions encouraged the Houthi militia to impose further… https://t.co/vb547RRywt

— معمر الإرياني (@ERYANIM) October 25, 2023