03 March 2008: Yemen Post Editor Attacked in His Car

13 February 2008: Armed tribesmen attack leading local newspaper

03 October 2007: Journalist Attacked by Security Forces

03 September 2007: Journalist Attacked by Security Forces

27 August 2007: Opposition editor found beaten hours after kidnapping

31 July 2007: Newspaper Attacked

28 January 2007: Prime minister’s security allegedly attacks reporter

17 October 2006: French journalist held in Yemen for entering country illegally

05 July 2006: Journalist’s murder decried

28 April 2006: IPI Condemns Intimidation of Yemeni Journalists

09 April 2006: Numerous Troubles, Continuous Strife of the Press

15 March 2006: Journalist Kidnapped

12 December 2005: Journalist Attacked Twice in a Week

13 November 2005: Journalist Assaulted in Sanaa

03 November 2005: Authorities Arrest Policemen Involved in Attack on Journalists

24 August 2005: Newspaper editor kidnapped and beaten by gunmen

29 July 2005: Journalists targets of increasing violence amid unrest

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Latest articles on Yemen from Reuters Alertnet

02 September 2007: One dead, 9 hurt in Yemeni price protest

01 September 2007: Yemen says two foreigners kidnapped by tribe

10 July 2007: Yemen police seize explosives in taxi

03 July 2007: Yemen ups security after attack kills 7 tourists

02 July 2007: Suspected al Qaeda suicide bombing kills 9 in Yemen

07 June 2007: Yemen's military say clashes with rebels near end

13 May 2007: Yemen forces fight battles with Shi'ite rebels

03 May 2007: ICRC / Yemeni Red Crescent aid convoy attacked in the north of the country

23 March 2007: Yemen says leading rebel among 15 killed by army

18 March 2007: Yemen says 7 troops, 25 rebels killed in clashes

11 September 2006: France hopes for release of kidnapped tourists in Yemen

25 August 2006: Three Yemenis killed in pre-election dispute

04 June 2006: Heavy rains cause major flood damage on Socotra coast

21 May 2006: When cultural norms underpin gun ownership

16 May 2006: Three Ethiopians killed crossing Sea of Aden

05 April 2006: Flash flooding destroys homes, kills dozens

22 March 2006: Polio cases rise in advance of vaccine drive

12 March 2006: Government concerned over maritime piracy

03 March 2006: Yemen frees 627 Zaidi rebels

22 February 2006: Experts blame kidnappings on underdevelopment and lawlessness

09 February 2006: Concern over humanitarian situation as fighting resumes in north

22 January 2006: UNHCR appeals against human smuggling

06 January 2006: Five Italian hostages released in Yemen

05 September 2005: Zaidi rebels accused of plotting to kill Yemen president

Click here to go to the Crisis Watch page

General Security Information
Terrorism/Security
There is a high threat from terrorism and evidence that terrorists may be targeting Western, including British, interests in Yemen.

There have been a number of terrorist incidents in Yemen in recent years. In August 2004, 15 Yemeni nationals were sentenced to terms of imprisonment for terrorist activity, including the attack on the MV Limburg (October 2002). Three US missionaries were killed in a shooting incident in Jiblah in December 2002. Since October 2002 the Yemeni Government has worked to break up terrorist groups in the country and has taken measures to improve security for travellers.

British nationals visiting or resident in Yemen should consider whether their personal security arrangements are adequate. You should be particularly vigilant in places frequented by foreigners, such as hotels.

Al Qa’ida continues to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Arabian Peninsular. These include references to attacks on Western interests, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners, such as hotels.

PRACTICAL INFO

Basic Facts

Capital
Sanaa

Language
Arabic is the official language

Ethnic Groups
Predominantly Arab, with a small Persian minority along the coast.

Religion
Islam is the official religion (47 percent Sunni, 53 percent Shi'ite).

Local Laws and Customs
Most Yemenis are very friendly and welcoming. But Yemen is an Islamic country and care should be taken to dress modestly and avoid offending local customs. Care should be exercised using cameras anywhere near military or religious sites, or taking pictures of people without their consent. Alcohol should not be consumed in public.

Crime
Incidents of violent crime against foreigners are rare, but the easy availability of weapons makes it a possibility. You should exercise caution at all times.

Some tribes are heavily armed and have a tradition of kidnapping foreigners to publicise their grievances or to further their case in disputes with the government. Such kidnappings have occurred in the capital Sana’a as well as in the governorates of al-Jawf, Abyan, Sa'dah, Dhamar, Amran, Marib and Shabwa. The most recent incident was on 11 March 2006 when a British aid worker was detained for four hours by armed tribesmen. Other incidents have lasted several days. We advise extreme caution when travelling outside urban areas. You should not travel outside cities at night. We strongly recommend that travel outside the major cities is only undertaken with an organised group accompanied by a military escort.

Useful Information

Time Zone
GMT +3

Climate
The mountainous region has moderate to plentiful rainfall between March and September and mild winters and warm, moist but usually sunny summers. In the lowland areas along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden the weather is hot and humid throughout the year with little rainfall.

Telephone dialling code
(+) 967

Currency
The currency is Rial. ATMs are very scarce in Yemen. You are advised to bring US dollars in cash as the easiest convertible currency.

You should carry a copy of your passport at all times and keep the original in a safe place.

Travel

Visa Requirements
You requires visas to enter Yemen. Visas may be obtained in advance from your nearest Yemeni representation. EU citizens can also obtain tourist visas at the airport upon arrival.

Driving (Left/Right)
Right

Road Safety
Driving standards are poor and mountain roads hazardous.

Avoid all road travel at night. Care should also be taken to avoid minefields left over from Yemen's civil wars. Travelling off well-used tracks without an experienced guide could be extremely hazardous, particularly in parts of the south and the central highlands.

Air Safety
All flights should be reconfirmed during your stay.

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm

Sea/River Safety
Many areas of the Gulf are highly sensitive, including near maritime boundaries and the islands of Abu Musa and the Tunbs in the southern Gulf. Vessels entering these areas have been detained and inspected; and there have been occasional arrests. Mariners should make careful enquiries before entering these waters or considering visiting ports.

Mariners should be aware that there is the possibility of attacks against ships and in particular yachts off the Yemen coast, especially in the Gulf of Aden. We strongly advise against yachting in this area.

Local Travel
Foreigners wishing to travel to the governorates north of Sana'a and to Hadhramaut will need prior permission from the Yemen Tourist Police. Such permission, which may take at least 24 hours to be issued, is easiest to obtain through a travel agent who can organise local tours.

We advise against all but essential travel to Sada’ah.

Health

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

Diseases
Malaria is prevalent in low-lying areas along the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf coasts and there have reports of an outbreak of Dengue Fever in the western coastal towns of Hodeidah and Mokah and the hill area of Ad Dhale. Polio is also present in some Red Sea coastal towns.

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.

Medical supplies and facilities
Medical facilities, particularly away from the main towns, are poor.

Landmines

Yemen is contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) as a result of several conflicts, including the 1962-1975 war in the north between republicans and royalists, the 1963-1967 war of independence in the south, the 1970-1983 war against left-wing guerrillas, and the 1994 separatist war. The majority of mines were laid in border areas between north and south Yemen and in the southern governorates.

A total of 592 villages in 19 of the country’s 20 governorates are mine/UXO-affected. The NGO's identified 1,078 mined areas covering a surface area of 923 square kilometers, mainly in the center and south of the country. Approximately 828,000 Yemenis (16 percent of the population) were affected. Most mine/UXO incidents occur in the governorates of Ibb, Al-Dhale, Al-Baida and Lahej.

back to index page

top