Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq said on Thursday that the employees were arrested at their home and belong to various UN agencies, including the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

According to the UN, the arrests took place shortly after UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke out against the situation at a press conference on Wednesday, following a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council.

Mr. Guterres strongly condemned the continued arbitrary detention of UN staff members and partner personnel, as well as staff from NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions. He called for their immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with international law.