Contractors detained in Yemen do not work for UN
Two contractors detained in Yemen's rebel-held capital arrived on a UN plane, but do not work directly for the world body, a spokesman said Monday.
The contractors, whose nationality was not released, were employed by a company that manages a hotel in Sanaa used by UN staff.
"They arrived from Djibouti on October 20th and were detained at the airport," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, adding that the United Nations had "facilitated their transport" to Sanaa.
Yemeni soldiers stand guard at the entrance gate of the United Nations buildings on February 22, 2015, in the capital Sanaa ©Mohammed Huwais (AFP/File)
"Some of the contractors from the same company had flown into Sanaa without any incidents," he said.
"They are there as part of the company that manages the facility that the UN uses in Sanaa."
The State Department said at the weekend that it was looking into reports that two US nationals had been detained at the airport in the capital, which is controlled by the Huthi rebels.
A Saudi-led coalition launched an air campaign in March to push back the Iran-backed Huthis and restore the authority of the government.
The United Nations is increasingly alarmed at the heavy toll on civilians from the Saudi air campaign that has led to a major humanitarian crisis, with 80 percent of the population in dire need of aid.
