EU ambassadors to Yemen called the Houthi militia to immediately reveal the circumstances of the death of the Director of Security and Safety at Save the Children International, Hisham Al-Hakimi. During a meeting on Monday, the ambassadors expressed their deep concern about the death of Hisham Al-Hakimi, who died under torture in the prisons of the Houthi militia. 

The ambassadors also stressed the need to release all employees of the United Nations and diplomatic missions detained in Sanaa.

Al-Hakimi, a security and safety official at the office of the international child welfare organization Save the Children in Yemen, died in a Houthi prison in Sanaa, 50 days after he was kidnapped from a public street in the city.

The United Nations called on the Houthi group to immediately reveal the circumstances of Al-Hakimi’s death while he was detained in one of the group’s prisons in Sanaa.

United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, David Gresley, said in a statement: “I call on the Sanaa authorities to provide comprehensive and urgent information regarding the circumstances that led to death of Hisham Al-Hakimi, a Save the Children worker, while he was in detention by the militia authorities In Sanaa.

Statement added that the United Nations and humanitarian partners are deeply concerned about the limited information available regarding the death of Hisham Al-Hakimi, who was detained by 
 Houthi authorities on September 9, 2023, and his death was reported on Tuesday, October 24.

In his statement, Gresley called on the Houthi group to reveal the fate of the UN employees detained by it, and said: “Three United Nations employees are still detained, two since November 2021, and the third since August 2023. Neither the international organization nor their families have been able to visit them. I call on the Sana’a authorities.” To provide complete information about their circumstances, and to provide them with visits.”

The international child welfare organization "Save the Children" announced the suspension of its work in areas controlled by the Houthi militia against the backdrop of the death of the security and safety official in its office in Yemen, Hisham Al-Hakimi, in the militia's security and intelligence prison in Sana'a.

The organization said in a statement, "It is deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of its employees who died while in detention in Yemen, and calls for an immediate independent investigation."

The organization confirmed that "the director of the security and safety department in its office in Yemen, Hisham Al-Hakimi, was arrested on September 9, outside of his working hours in the organization."

"Despite repeated attempts by his family, legal representatives and the Save the Children team, no one was able to see him or speak to him throughout his entire detention period."

She noted that "no charges or legal procedures were brought by the authorities or any reasons were given for his detention in Sanaa." "Under these circumstances, Save the Children will suspend its operations in northern Yemen with immediate effect," she added.

Save the childern explained that Hisham, a 44-year-old husband and father of four children, has been a dedicated member of the Save the Children family since 2006.

 “Hisham’s commitment to Save the Children’s mission in Yemen will forever be remembered.”

Save the Children extended its "deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends and colleagues."

Save The Childern noted that she has been working in Yemen since 1963, implementing programs in the fields of education, child protection, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and emergency response in most parts of the country.