Editor’s Note: The details below have not been independently verified, but are drawn from several early news reports in the Jordanian press.
Lana Shukri Kataw Freed
In the early hours of Thursday morning, a Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130H landed quietly at Sana’a International Airport. On board was former Houthi foreign minister Hisham Sharaf, returning from Aden. In exchange, Lana Shukri Kataw — Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Yemen — walked free after days in Houthi captivity.
She was flown back to Jordan and arrived at a military airfield near Amman, where she was greeted with relief by colleagues and family.The deal, coordinated by Jordanian intelligence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman, and the Royal Jordanian Air Force, was kept under strict secrecy until its conclusion. Only then did officials confirm Kataw’s release and safe return.
Kataw, a Jordanian citizen who previously served in India as Deputy for Operations, was one of at least 19 UN staff seized on August 31 during Houthi raids on UN offices in Sana’a.
The timing was telling. Just days earlier, Israel had killed the Houthis’ prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, and several cabinet ministers in an airstrike on Sana’a. The raids on UN offices followed almost immediately, reinforcing suspicions that the Houthis were lashing out at international organizations during a moment of leadership crisis.
Kataw’s release appears to be a one-off arrangement and has done little to ease concerns for the many others still detained. According to UN sources, 41 UN staff members remain in Houthi custody — 19 detained in the August 31 raids, in addition to 23 already being held.
The Houthis are also detaining at least 60 NGO workers, both national and international staff, since late May 2024. Rights groups believe the real number may be even higher.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have intensified in Yemen. Raids on Sana’a this week killed at least 35 people, wounded more than 130, and damaged the National Museum along with other historic sites. Two journalists were among the dead. The Houthis have vowed retaliation, framing their campaign as support for Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza.
Her case highlights the wider dilemma facing the UN in Yemen: how to continue delivering aid in one of the world’s harshest war zones while safeguarding both international and local staff from intimidation, harassment, and violence.
Shocked to learn about Lana's captivity and release. Happy to learn about her release and safe return back to Amman. Sincerely pray for the release of all the other UN and NGO personnel at the earliest
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sharing this TOM
ReplyDeleteHaving worked in UNICEF Yemen for 3 years, during which period the clashes between Houthis and the Govt. had started, I was horrified to hear about the Dy.Representative's capture along with many others. Thank God she has been released, but hope and pray the others are released soonest as well.
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