Press Conference on Yemen 20 March 2023
/
19:58
/
MP4
/
1.2 GB

Edited News , Press Conferences | UNITED NATIONS

Press Conference on Yemen 20 March 2023

The parties to the conflict in Yemen have agreed at talks in Switzerland to swap more than 880 prisoners after they concluded a 10-day meeting facilitated by the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The parties have agreed on implementation plans to release 887 conflict-related detainees from all sides”, said Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, when speaking to media today at the United Nations in Geneva. “They also agreed to reconvene in mid-May to discuss more releases. They further committed to exchange joint visits to each other's detention facilities and to enable access to all detainees during these visits.”

These latest closed-door negotiations marked the seventh meeting of the Supervisory Committee which was established under on the Stockholm Agreement, a UN mediated accord from December 2018, to support the parties in meeting their commitments to release all conflict-related detainees.

“Today, hundreds of Yemeni families can look forward to reuniting with their loved ones”, said Mr. Grundberg. “But it is important to remember that when the parties committed to the detainee’s exchange agreement, they made a promise not just to each other, but to the thousands of Yemeni families who have been living with the pain of separation from these dearest to them for far too long”, he said.

The exchange of conflict-related detainees has been under discussion as a key confidence-building measure under the Stockholm Agreement between the parties to the conflict.

The nearly decade-long conflict in Yemen began in 2014 when Houthi insurgent militias first took control of the country’s capital and largest city, Sana’a.

I also would like to remind all of us that much remains to be done”, said Mr. Grundberg. ”A comprehensive and sustainable end to the conflict is necessary if Yemen is to recover from the devastating toll the eight-year conflict has had on its men and women. To this end, I will continue my work with the parties, regional members and the international community, to make progress towards an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process that sets the foundation for a better future for Yemen.”

In previous meetings of the Supervisory Committee, the parties have agreed to adopt a phased approach to fulfill their obligation to release all for all.

“I saw first-hand the joy of families who are reunited with their loved ones, detainees. In 2020, we had already more than a thousand detainees released, again in partnership with the UN”, reminded Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC’s Regional Director for the Near and Middle East. ”In 2022, we also accompanied 177 detainees unilaterally released. And today, again, we are ready to play our role as a neutral intermediary in transporting detainees, making sure that they are aware of what will happen to them and make sure that they are in conditions to return.”

A UN-brokered ceasefire that took effect in April 2022 brought a sharp reduction in hostilities. The truce expired in October, though fighting largely remains on hold.

“We hope that soon negotiations can resume for the release of the remaining detainees”, said Mr. Carboni. “I also have thoughts for the many families who have no news of their loved ones because they are detained, dead, or just wounded and without news.”

ICRC emphasized that the prisoner’s exchange must be carefully planned, and that the detention releases are to be completed before the beginning of Ramadan in two days.

“We need to be very prepared for the day the simultaneous release takes place and then improvise, because we all know that such a complicated and difficult exercise requires a lot of adjustments, improvisation, and luckily we have a level of trust with all the parties involved in this release”, Mr. Carboni said. “We have this unique partnership with the UN in Yemen, and I have no reason to believe that it won't be a success. And a success which needs to happen as soon as possible, because we all know Ramadan is coming and I think we can't lose a single day to have those detainees reunited with their families.”

The conflict in Yemen has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. According to the UN, more than 21 million people – two thirds of the population - are in need of humanitarian assistance, five million are at risk of famine, and a cholera outbreak which began in October 2016 has affected over one million people. An estimated 4.5 million people – or 14 per cent of the population - are currently displaced, most of whom have been displaced multiple times.

-ends-

STORY: Yemen Detainees’ Exchange Agreement – UN, ICRC

TRT: 4 min 07s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 20 March 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST



  1. Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva.
  2. Cutaway: medium shot, speakers behind podium
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen: “The parties have agreed on implementation plans to release 887 conflict-related detainees from all sides. They also agreed to reconvene in mid-May to discuss more releases. They further committed to exchange joint visits to each other's detention facilities and to enable access to all detainees during these visits.”
  4. Cutaway: medium lateral shot, speakers behind podium, journalists and photographers at the press conference, UN Geneva.
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen: “Today, hundreds of Yemeni families can look forward to reuniting with their loved ones. But it is important to remember that when the parties committed to the detainee’s exchange agreement, they made a promise not just to each other, but to the thousands of Yemeni families who have been living with the pain of separation from these dearest to them for far too long.”
  6. Cutaway: close lateral shot, speakers behind podium at press conference room, UN Geneva.
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen: I also would like to remind all of us that much remains to be done. A comprehensive and sustainable end to the conflict is necessary if Yemen is to recover from the devastating toll the eight-year conflict has had on its men and women. To this end, I will continue my work with the parties, regional members and the international community, to make progress towards an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process that sets the foundation for a better future for Yemen.”
  8. Cutaway: medium lateral shot, speakers behind podium, journalists at the press conference, UN Geneva.
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC Regional Director, Near and Middle East: “I saw first-hand the joy of families who are reunited with their loved ones, detainees. In 2020, we had already more than a thousand detainees released, again in partnership with the UN. In 2022, we also accompanied 177 detainees unilaterally released. And today, again, we are ready to play our role as a neutral intermediary in transporting detainees, making sure that they are aware of what will happen to them and make sure that they are in conditions to return.”
  10. Cutaway: medium shot of journalists in the press room.
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC Regional Director, Near and Middle East: “And we hope that soon negotiations can resume for the release of the remaining detainees. I also have thoughts for the many families who have no news of their loved ones because they are detained, dead, or just wounded and without news.”
  12. Cutaway: medium shot with speakers at podium.
  13. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC Regional Director, Near and Middle East: “We need to be very prepared for the day the simultaneous release takes place and then improvise, because we all know that such a complicated and difficult exercise requires a lot of adjustments, improvisation, and luckily we have a level of trust with all the parties involved in this release. We have this unique partnership with the UN in Yemen, and I have no reason to believe that it won't be a success. And a success which needs to happen as soon as possible, because we all know Ramadan is coming and I think we can't lose a single day to have those detainees reunited with their families.”
  14. Various cutaways of journalists and speakers in the press conference room; speakers setting up for handshake and group photo.

Similar Stories

DRC  UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu   Ravina Shamdasani UN Human Rights Spokesperson

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu Ravina Shamdasani UN Human Rights Spokesperson ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

WMO Press conference: Global Air Pollution - 04 September 2025

2

3

2

Press Conferences | WMO

WMO Press conference: Global Air Pollution - 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2024.

OHCHR Press conference: 33rd CRPD Findings- 03 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR Press conference: 33rd CRPD Findings- 03 September 2025 ENG FRA

The UN disability rights committee (CRPD) presented the findings of its 33rd session on DPRK, Finland, Kiribati, Maldives and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

HRC - Press Conference: President of the Human Rights Council - 03 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC

HRC - Press Conference: President of the Human Rights Council - 03 September 2025 ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Council President Ambassador Jürg Lauber briefs the press in Geneva ahead of the Council's 60th session.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017. 

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 02 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 02 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Federation of the Red Cross.

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR ENG FRA

Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’

In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA ENG FRA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025 ENG FRA

Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.