UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed "shock" and condemned the death of Mohammad el-Shami, a staff member of the UN Human Rights Office, while in Houthi detention in Yemen. Guterres' spokesperson stated that the UN calls for an immediate, impartial, transparent, and thorough investigation into el-Shami's death. Since his detention in June 2024, Houthi authorities had not provided information on el-Shami's health or proof of life. El-Shami is the second UN staff member to die in Houthi detention, following the death of a World Food Programme employee in February 2025 while in custody.