A/HRC/33/38 E. Deprivation of liberty20 53. In its resolution 30/18, the Human Rights Council expressed its deep concern at the abduction of political activists and the violations against journalists. Since 1 July 2015, OHCHR has verified 491 cases that may amount to deprivation of liberty by the various parties to the conflict (see figure X).21 Information gathered indicates that 89 per cent of the incidents relating to deprivation of liberty were allegedly committed by the Popular Committees, 6 per cent were attributed to Al-Qaida affiliates and 5 per cent were attributed to the pro-Hadi Popular Resistance Committees. As at 24 March 2016, 249 individuals reportedly deprived of their liberty, including 18 journalists,22 were in custody in detention centres in various governorates.23 The whereabouts of four detainees remained unknown, and the cases may amount to disappearances. 54. In Sana’a, OHCHR identified at least eight places of deprivation of liberty operated by the Popular Committees, including Habra, in Al-Shu’aub District; Hataresh, in Bani Hashaysh District, Al-Thawra; and the house of Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar in Haddah. Released individuals told OHCHR that the conditions of their deprivation of liberty were marred by malnutrition, denial of medical care, extremely limited visits and squalid sanitation conditions. 55. In November and December 2015, OHCHR visited places of deprivation of liberty in seven governorates: Aden, Abyan, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Ibb, Sana’a and Shabwah. During the field visits, 56 individuals deprived of their liberty, prisoners and detainees were interviewed individually, as were senior officials in Sana’a city. According to information gathered by OHCHR, as at 31 December 2015, a total of 8,905 individuals were being held by the “rehabilitation and correction authority”. 56. OHCHR has sent 24 letters to various authorities since November 2015, requesting information and expressing its concerns about the fate of the 491 persons who may have been deprived of their liberty, but did not receive any response. 24 20 21 22 23 24 See annex I, section F, for information on other cases of deprivation of liberty. OHCHR documented cases of detention of fighters but did not document allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. OHCHR is also monitoring the exchange of fighters between the parties to the conflict. In a report published in 2016, Amnesty International indicated that at least 11 journalists were currently being held by Houthi forces. See Amnesty International, “Where is my father? Detention and disappearance in Huthi-controlled Yemen” (London, 2016). The Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights mentioned in its reports submitted to OHCHR, dated February 2016, that 13 journalists remained deprived of their liberty. Detention centres in the governorates of Hodeidah, Sana’a, Aden, Ibb, Taizz, Hadramout and Shabwa. Six letters were sent to the Ministry of the Interior, five to the Political Bureau of Ansar Allah, three to the office of the President, two to the General Prosecutor, two to the head of security forces of Sana’a city, two to the National Security Bureau, two to the president of the Houthi high revolutionary council, one to the high judicial council and one to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 17