UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- One UN staff member, who was detained in Yemen on Tuesday, has been released, leaving the number of detained UN staff in the country at 53, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday.

"I told you yesterday that an additional UN staff member was confirmed detained. Our coworkers in Yemen today tell us that the additional person who was detained yesterday was released today," Dujarric told reporters at a daily briefing.

Some of the UN staff have been detained by the Houthis since 2021, he said, urging the group to immediately and unconditionally release all UN and humanitarian workers who are supporting the most vulnerable people in Yemen. ■