In a statement on Monday, António Guterres strongly condemned the death in detention of a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member earlier this year.
The Houthis have yet to provide “an explanation for this deplorable tragedy,” António Guterres said, renewing his call for “an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation and accountability.”
“The UN and its humanitarian partners should never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their mandates for the benefit of the people they serve,” said the UN chief.
These detentions have further constrained the UN’s ability to operate effectively in Yemen and have “undermined mediation efforts to secure a path toward peace,” he added.
Safe and immediate release
Marking the occasion of Eid Al-Adha this Friday, “a time to show compassion,” the Secretary-General urged the Houthis to “immediately release those arbitrarily detained” and “end the ordeal of families who face celebrating yet another holiday without their loved ones.”
“I renew my call for their immediate and unconditional release, including those held since 2021 and 2023, and most recently this January,” Mr. Guterres said.
“You are not forgotten,” he added, addressing the detained aid workers, assuring them that the UN will continue to work through all possible channels to secure their safe and immediate release.
He also welcomed the support of international partners, NGOs and all those working to support the people of Yemen, urging Member States to express solidarity with those detained and “intensify advocacy towards their release.”
Three outstanding LIFE projects were awarded the LIFE Awards 2025, held as part of European Green Week to recognise excellence in nature conservation, circularity and climate resilience.
The winners were selected from nine finalists in three categories: nature, circular economy and quality of life, and climate action. Together, they represent some of the most creative and impactful initiatives helping to create a greener Europe.
The LIFE Award for Nature went to LIFE Lynx, which brought together conservationists, hunters and local communities to successfully reverse the decline of the Alpine Lynx in the Dinaric Alps. The runners-up in this category were LIFEraisedbogs and LIFE living Natura 2000.
LIFE Lynx also won the LIFE Citizens’ Prize, awarded to the project that received the most public support in an online vote.
The winner of the LIFE Award for Circular Economy and Quality of Life was LIFE POPWAT, which piloted a new nature-based technology to remove hazardous man-made chemicals from contaminated water in Czechia and Poland. The runners-up in this category were LIFE EMERALD and LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE.
The winner of the LIFE Award for Climate Action was LIFE DESERT-ADAPT, a project combating desertification improving soil quality, improved water retention capacity and improved ecosystem resilience in Italy, Spain and Portugal. The runners-up in this category were NATURAL HVACR 4 LIFE and LIFE Natur’Adapt.
This year a special category was introduced – “Rising Star Recognition” – for projects making a remarkable contribution to the circular economy. This special Award went to LIFE RE-ZIP, a Danish project which aims to replace thousands of tonnes of commercial packaging waste with more environmentally friendly reusable eCommerce packaging. When the project ends in 2026, more than 120 million reusable packages will be in circulation, with 17,000 tonnes of cardboard and plastic waste saved and more than 300 jobs created.
About the LIFE Awards
The LIFE Awards celebrate the most impactful projects implemented under the LIFE Programme each year. Since 1992, LIFE has funded thousands of projects focused on environmental protection and climate action.
The jury commended the winners for the immediate and long-term environmental, economic and social improvements of their projects. They recognised their innovation, scale-up potential, and relevance to the EU’s decarbonisation, circularity and biodiversity goals.
Full list of LIFE Awards 2025 finalists
Nature Protection
LIFE Lynx: bringing together conservationists, hunters and local communities to successfully reverse the decline of the Alpine Lynx in Slovenia and Croatia.
LIFEraisedbogs: restoring over 900 hectares of rare raised peat bogs across 10 different sites in Denmark.
LIFE living Natura 2000: campaigning for understanding, acceptance and appreciation of the Natura 2000 network in Germany.
Circular Economy and Quality of Life
LIFE EMERALD: reducing air pollution and improving citizens’ health in Ireland.
LIFE POPWAT: piloting new technology to remove hazardous man-made chemicals from contaminated water in Czechia and Poland.
LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE: combining traditional and modern fire prevention techniques to reduce large-scale forest fires in Portugal and Spain.
Climate Action
LIFE DESERT-ADAPT: tackling desertification by improving soil health, enhancing water retention, and building ecosystem resilience in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
NATURAL HVACR 4 LIFE: developing viable natural air-conditioning systems to replace climate-damaging F-gases (fluorinated greenhouse gases) in Belgium, Germany, France and Czechia.
LIFE Natur’Adapt: promoting climate change adaptation tools among 1 300 managers at 21 natural protected sites across France.
About the LIFE Programme
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. It has been bringing green ideas to life since 1992 and, to date, has co-financed over 6,000 projects across the EU and in third countries. For the 2021-2027 period, the European Commission has increased LIFE Programme funding by almost 60%, up to €5.4 billion, and included the clean energy transition sub-programme.
Three outstanding LIFE projects were awarded the LIFE Awards 2025, held as part of European Green Week to recognise excellence in nature conservation, circularity and climate resilience.
The winners were selected from nine finalists in three categories: nature, circular economy and quality of life, and climate action. Together, they represent some of the most creative and impactful initiatives helping to create a greener Europe.
The LIFE Award for Nature went to LIFE Lynx, which brought together conservationists, hunters and local communities to successfully reverse the decline of the Alpine Lynx in the Dinaric Alps. The runners-up in this category were LIFEraisedbogs and LIFE living Natura 2000.
LIFE Lynx also won the LIFE Citizens’ Prize, awarded to the project that received the most public support in an online vote.
The winner of the LIFE Award for Circular Economy and Quality of Life was LIFE POPWAT, which piloted a new nature-based technology to remove hazardous man-made chemicals from contaminated water in Czechia and Poland. The runners-up in this category were LIFE EMERALD and LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE.
The winner of the LIFE Award for Climate Action was LIFE DESERT-ADAPT, a project combating desertification improving soil quality, improved water retention capacity and improved ecosystem resilience in Italy, Spain and Portugal. The runners-up in this category were NATURAL HVACR 4 LIFE and LIFE Natur’Adapt.
This year a special category was introduced – “Rising Star Recognition” – for projects making a remarkable contribution to the circular economy. This special Award went to LIFE RE-ZIP, a Danish project which aims to replace thousands of tonnes of commercial packaging waste with more environmentally friendly reusable eCommerce packaging. When the project ends in 2026, more than 120 million reusable packages will be in circulation, with 17,000 tonnes of cardboard and plastic waste saved and more than 300 jobs created.
About the LIFE Awards
The LIFE Awards celebrate the most impactful projects implemented under the LIFE Programme each year. Since 1992, LIFE has funded thousands of projects focused on environmental protection and climate action.
The jury commended the winners for the immediate and long-term environmental, economic and social improvements of their projects. They recognised their innovation, scale-up potential, and relevance to the EU’s decarbonisation, circularity and biodiversity goals.
Full list of LIFE Awards 2025 finalists
Nature Protection
LIFE Lynx: bringing together conservationists, hunters and local communities to successfully reverse the decline of the Alpine Lynx in Slovenia and Croatia.
LIFEraisedbogs: restoring over 900 hectares of rare raised peat bogs across 10 different sites in Denmark.
LIFE living Natura 2000: campaigning for understanding, acceptance and appreciation of the Natura 2000 network in Germany.
Circular Economy and Quality of Life
LIFE EMERALD: reducing air pollution and improving citizens’ health in Ireland.
LIFE POPWAT: piloting new technology to remove hazardous man-made chemicals from contaminated water in Czechia and Poland.
LIFE LANDSCAPE FIRE: combining traditional and modern fire prevention techniques to reduce large-scale forest fires in Portugal and Spain.
Climate Action
LIFE DESERT-ADAPT: tackling desertification by improving soil health, enhancing water retention, and building ecosystem resilience in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
NATURAL HVACR 4 LIFE: developing viable natural air-conditioning systems to replace climate-damaging F-gases (fluorinated greenhouse gases) in Belgium, Germany, France and Czechia.
LIFE Natur’Adapt: promoting climate change adaptation tools among 1 300 managers at 21 natural protected sites across France.
About the LIFE Programme
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. It has been bringing green ideas to life since 1992 and, to date, has co-financed over 6,000 projects across the EU and in third countries. For the 2021-2027 period, the European Commission has increased LIFE Programme funding by almost 60%, up to €5.4 billion, and included the clean energy transition sub-programme.
“Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime,” the High Commissioner said in a statement, issued after Palestinians were reportedly killed seeking assistance for a third day running.
Mr. Türk also urged Israel to respect “binding orders” issued by the International Court of Justiceto fully cooperate with the UN and ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza “without delay” and “at scale”.
“There is no justification for failing to comply with these obligations,” he said.
The controversial new aid initiative run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation bypasses the work of UN aid agencies which have repeatedly appealed for unimpeded access to Gaza in order to bring in thousands of tonnes of supplies. To date, the little aid that has been allowed into the enclave has fallen far short of what is needed.
In an update, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) insisted that it still had “teams on the ground” in Gaza ready to distribute supplies where they are needed across the war-torn enclave, if only they could be allowed to move.
“We have right now 51 trucks waiting loaded with medical supplies to go to those few hospitals that are still functional,” said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. “We need access so that we can bring in supplies within Gaza to health facilities so they can function. Unfortunately, what is happening is just the opposite. There is no hospital in north Gaza functional anymore.”
On Monday, Mr. Jasarevic said that a WHO team went to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza “and basically evacuated all remaining patients and medical staff…now that hospital is completely empty”. In Jabalia, also in northern Gaza, three Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed on Monday when their vehicle struck an explosive device.
Most vulnerable miss out
Critics of the US-Israeli scheme – which include the UN – have warned that it prevents children, the elderly and those with disabilities from receiving aid, since recipients often have to walk long distances to retrieve boxes of supplies distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“The wilful impediment of access to food and other life-sustaining relief supplies for civilians may constitute a war crime,” Mr. Türk said.
His lengthy statement also condemned “the threat of starvation” faced by Gazans today, the “20 months of killing of civilians and destruction on a massive scale”.
Gazans have also been repeatedly displaced by evacuation orders from the Israeli military and faced “intolerable, dehumanizing rhetoric and threats by Israel’s leadership to empty the Strip”, the UN rights chief noted. All of these facts constitute elements of the most serious crimes under international law, he insisted.
‘Am I going to get shot?’
Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR, highlighted the High Commissioner’s call for a prompt, independent investigation into the dozens of reported killings in Gaza since the new aid hub opened on 27 May.
“I think there’s so much which has happened in the past three days apart from the tragic circumstances of human beings trying to gather food to survive and then being killed in the process,” hetold journalists in Geneva. “[Gazans] are being forced to walk to these centres and now they’re terrified. Probably they go there and they’re thinking, ‘Am I going to get food or am I going to get shot?’”
Mr. Laurence noted multiple media reports on killings around the southern Gaza aid hub in recent days indicating engagement by helicopters, naval vessels, tanks and ground troops.
“We are aware of those reports,” he said, noting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had also published an account on X of what had happened on Tuesday.
“My colleagues who are working on the ground have conducted interviews with witnesses and they do report fire from the IDF on those trying to access the food distribution centres. We’ve received reports from other organizations on the ground to a similar effect.”
He added: “We’ve gathered our own information; we’ve spoken to witnesses on the ground who have shared what they have seen, heard and felt themselves.”
Asked to explain what the High Commissioner meant when he expressed concerns that the “most serious crimes under international law” may have been committed, Mr. Laurence explained that this referred to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
“Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime,” the High Commissioner said in a statement, issued after Palestinians were reportedly killed seeking assistance for a third day running.
Mr. Türk also urged Israel to respect “binding orders” issued by the International Court of Justiceto fully cooperate with the UN and ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza “without delay” and “at scale”.
“There is no justification for failing to comply with these obligations,” he said.
The controversial new aid initiative run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation bypasses the work of UN aid agencies which have repeatedly appealed for unimpeded access to Gaza in order to bring in thousands of tonnes of supplies. To date, the little aid that has been allowed into the enclave has fallen far short of what is needed.
In an update, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) insisted that it still had “teams on the ground” in Gaza ready to distribute supplies where they are needed across the war-torn enclave, if only they could be allowed to move.
“We have right now 51 trucks waiting loaded with medical supplies to go to those few hospitals that are still functional,” said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. “We need access so that we can bring in supplies within Gaza to health facilities so they can function. Unfortunately, what is happening is just the opposite. There is no hospital in north Gaza functional anymore.”
On Monday, Mr. Jasarevic said that a WHO team went to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza “and basically evacuated all remaining patients and medical staff…now that hospital is completely empty”. In Jabalia, also in northern Gaza, three Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed on Monday when their vehicle struck an explosive device.
Most vulnerable miss out
Critics of the US-Israeli scheme – which include the UN – have warned that it prevents children, the elderly and those with disabilities from receiving aid, since recipients often have to walk long distances to retrieve boxes of supplies distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“The wilful impediment of access to food and other life-sustaining relief supplies for civilians may constitute a war crime,” Mr. Türk said.
His lengthy statement also condemned “the threat of starvation” faced by Gazans today, the “20 months of killing of civilians and destruction on a massive scale”.
Gazans have also been repeatedly displaced by evacuation orders from the Israeli military and faced “intolerable, dehumanizing rhetoric and threats by Israel’s leadership to empty the Strip”, the UN rights chief noted. All of these facts constitute elements of the most serious crimes under international law, he insisted.
‘Am I going to get shot?’
Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR, highlighted the High Commissioner’s call for a prompt, independent investigation into the dozens of reported killings in Gaza since the new aid hub opened on 27 May.
“I think there’s so much which has happened in the past three days apart from the tragic circumstances of human beings trying to gather food to survive and then being killed in the process,” hetold journalists in Geneva. “[Gazans] are being forced to walk to these centres and now they’re terrified. Probably they go there and they’re thinking, ‘Am I going to get food or am I going to get shot?’”
Mr. Laurence noted multiple media reports on killings around the southern Gaza aid hub in recent days indicating engagement by helicopters, naval vessels, tanks and ground troops.
“We are aware of those reports,” he said, noting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had also published an account on X of what had happened on Tuesday.
“My colleagues who are working on the ground have conducted interviews with witnesses and they do report fire from the IDF on those trying to access the food distribution centres. We’ve received reports from other organizations on the ground to a similar effect.”
He added: “We’ve gathered our own information; we’ve spoken to witnesses on the ground who have shared what they have seen, heard and felt themselves.”
Asked to explain what the High Commissioner meant when he expressed concerns that the “most serious crimes under international law” may have been committed, Mr. Laurence explained that this referred to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Authorities have tracked down and dismantled a human trafficking network operating in Switzerland. The criminal group recruited young vulnerable women in Romania for sexual exploitation. The close cooperation between investigators from both countries, supported by Eurojust and Europol, culminated in an action day on 3 June, during which 18 suspects were arrested.
The criminal group targeted individuals from disadvantaged communities in Romania. The perpetrators approached their victims on social media, luring them with false romantic promises or offers for them to perform sex work abroad under favourable conditions. Once the victims accepted these offers, they were taken abroad to provide sexual services on escort websites and in rented flats. They were kept under constant surveillance by the criminal group and subjected to appalling conditions, working long hours in degrading and unsafe circumstances. The victims were expected to work continuously, regardless of their mental or physical state. Even visibly pregnant women were forced to work without rest.
Investigations into the group uncovered a large-scale network that had been operating across Europe for over seven years. In 2022, its members moved to Switzerland to continue their activities in several Swiss German-speaking cities, particularly Zurich. The suspected leader of the group started to recruit new members, setting up his own criminal school, where he taught techniques enslaving and exploiting victims. In some cases, victims were traded between members in exchange for money or used as stakes in gambling.
A joint action day to dismantle the criminal group took place on 3 June. Authorities arrested 13 suspects in Romania and five in Switzerland. The alleged victims were brought to safety and given support from a counselling service specialising in human trafficking. In addition to targeting the members in Switzerland, the investigations also focused on individuals in Romania who provided logistical support and laundered the proceeds from the criminal activities.
The successful operation was made possible through close cooperation between Romanian and Swiss authorities under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol. A joint investigation team, set up and funded by Eurojust, ensured the authorities could work together quickly and efficiently. Europol supported the national authorities throughout the investigation by facilitating the exchange of critical intelligence and providing expert analytical support, including the preparation of link charts on the organised crime group. On the action day, Europol provided remote assistance to investigators by cross-checking operational data in real time.
The following authorities carried out the operation:
Romania: Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice – Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, Bacau Territorial Service; Police Brigade for Combating Organised Crime Iași, Police Service for Combating Organised Crime Neamț; Neamț and Bacău County Gendarmerie Inspectorates; Mobile Gendarmerie Unit Bacău.
Switzerland: Public Prosecutor’s Office of the canton of Zurich; Zurich City Police
Authorities have tracked down and dismantled a human trafficking network operating in Switzerland. The criminal group recruited young vulnerable women in Romania for sexual exploitation. The close cooperation between investigators from both countries, supported by Eurojust and Europol, culminated in an action day on 3 June, during which 17 suspects were identified.
