Amid fears that coronavirus will reach Yemen, the Association of Mothers of Abductees held a vigil in front of the Saudi-led coalition headquarters in the interim capital on Monday to demand the release of their sons who were forcibly disappeared and arbitrarily detained.

In a statement, the association expressed grave concern about the situation of 38 forcibly disappeared detainees whose fate is unknown and 52 detainees in Bir Ahmed prison. 

The association held Yemen's Interior Ministry and the Public Prosecutor's Office responsible for the prisoners’ safety and health and called on UAE-backed military forces, international and local human rights organizations to release the forcibly detained who have gone missing for years. 

The Public Prosecutor's Office in the Marib governorate released 62 prisoners who committed nonviolent crimes. Meanwhile, the local authority in the Shabwa governorate released 43 prisoners as part of precautionary measures to deal with the global pandemic in case it reaches Yemen.

On Sunday, the local authority in Al-Mahra governorate released 49 prisoners who had served two-thirds of their sentences.

As of March 30, Yemen has not reported any coronavirus infections.