Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should not travel to Yemen due to terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines. The Travel Advisory lists areas with increased risk. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Peace Index 2022 ranks Yemen 162 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as being at a Very Low state of peace. Crime EnvironmentThe U.S. Department of State has assessed Yemen as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Yemen. Emergency line: 199 Review the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Crime: General Threat Yemen is often rated as one of the world’s most fragile state due to the ongoing conflict, exemplified by an increased crime rate and a decrease in law enforcement. The instability created by Yemen’s security, economic, and social conditions has created a fertile environment for crime and corruption both in the areas controlled by the Houthis and the internationally recognized government. Despite the prevalence of checkpoints throughout the country, criminal activities such as kidnapping, petty theft, carjacking, scams, abuses, sexual harassment, assault, murder, violence, looting and robbery are increasing at an alarming rate. The Global Organized Crime Index is a tool designed to measure levels of organized crime in a given country and assess its resilience to organized criminal activity. The most recent index ranks Yemen 39 out of 193 worldwide for criminality, with 1 being the worst possible ranking; and 186 out of 193 worldwide for resilience, with 1 being the best possible ranking. Crime: Areas of Concern Burglaries and home invasions are becoming more and more common, especially in the areas of direct conflict. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, and Taking Credit. Kidnapping Threat The U.S. Department of State has included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Yemen, indicating that criminal or terrorist individuals or groups have threatened to and/or have seized or detained and threatened to kill, injure, or continue to detain individuals in order to compel a third party (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing something as a condition of release. Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2015, rebel groups in Sana’a have systematically and unlawfully detained U.S. citizens. Reports indicate that criminals target U.S. citizens by virtue of their citizenship, regardless of the amount of time they have spent in Yemen, their established connections with rebel groups, or their connections with local businesses or humanitarian organizations aimed at providing relief to those in need. During their detentions, which in some cases have lasted well over a year, U.S. citizens have not been able to contact their families or receive U.S. consular visits or those from international humanitarian organizations. U.S. government direct assistance to U.S. citizens in detention is severely limited, since there has been no U.S. diplomatic presence in Yemen following the Houthi rebel takeover of Sana’a. In addition to the threat of detention by rebel groups, there continue to be other risks due to the ongoing conflict and heightened terrorist activity, including kidnappings for ransom. Review OSAC’s report, Kidnapping: The Basics. Drug Crime Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can lead to immediate arrest and detention. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Yemen are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. However, Yemen still faces an increase in illegal drugs such as heroin and marijuana. The use of the stimulant qat/khat is legal and common in Yemen, but it is illegal in many other countries, including a Schedule 1 drug designation in the United States. Do not attempt to bring qat back to the United States; the penalties for trafficking qat include heavy fines and possible imprisonment. Consult with the CIA World Factbook’s section on Illicit Drugs for country-specific information. Terrorism EnvironmentThe U.S. Department of State has assessed Yemen as being a CRITICAL-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The U.S. Department of State has included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Yemen, indicating that terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist. Review the latest State Department Country Report on Terrorism for Yemen. The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Terrorism Index 2022 ranks Yemen 21 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as having a Medium impact from terrorism. Terrorism: General Threat The threat posed by violent extremist groups in Yemen remains high. Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has expanded its influence in Yemen since the beginning of the conflict. Because of the instability and violence in Yemen, the internationally recognized government cannot effectively enforce counterterrorism measures, and a large security vacuum persists. AQAP has benefitted from the conflict by significantly expanding its presence in the southern and eastern governorates. ISIS has also established a presence in Yemen and claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks throughout Yemen since 2016. Methods include suicide bombings, vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs), ambushes, kidnappings, and targeted assassinations. All governorates of Yemen have witnessed violence due to conflicts between the Houthis, tribal militias, government forces, and a range of non-state actors, including AQAP and ISIS. The U.S. government remains extremely concerned about possible attacks against U.S. citizens (whether visiting or residing in Yemen), U.S. private-sector facilities, and perceived U.S. and Western interests. Political Violence and Civil Unrest Environment The U.S. Department of State has assessed Yemen as being a CRITICAL-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Yemen, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent. Elections/Political StabilityNow in its eighth year, Yemen’s civil conflict has exacerbated the world’s worst food security emergency and engendered a war economy that further disadvantages the most vulnerable. The protracted war has drawn in neighboring states; it has led to collapsed state institutions, local power vacuums and ungoverned spaces that militias and terrorists are exploiting to threaten close regional allies. The war has complicated ongoing counterterrorism efforts and has provided Iran a space to pursue its own ambitions in Yemen, further threatening regional stability. In 2015, the Saudi-led coalition (SLC) initiated an air campaign in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government. A nationwide cessation of hostilities ended in 2016, and high levels of violence, to include armed conflict, artillery shelling, and air strikes, persist in areas throughout the country. Instability and ongoing threats in Yemen are at a severe level. Frequent airstrikes and shelling in many areas of Yemen have led to high levels of civilian casualties. In August 2019, UAE-backed Security Belt Forces, many of which aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), took over the internationally recognized government’s temporary capital of Aden and several other southern territories, leading to an increase of the level of violence in Aden, Lahij, Abyan, and Shabwah governorates as the STC continued to contest control over southern Yemen. In October 2019, Saudi forces replaced UAE forces in Aden and established security conditions to enable the return of the government to its temporary capital. In December 2020, the Republic of Yemen Government officially returned to Aden, although the city continues to experience high levels of violence. The Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis agreed to a formal ceasefire which subsequently lasted six months and resulted in a pause between significant acts of cross-border military activity and contained violence to lower levels in more isolated pockets of the country. A de facto ceasefire has remained in place since the expiration of the formal ceasefire in October 2022. Parties have been unable to come to an agreement over the terms of a renewed ceasefire, and the absence of such means a resumed conflict remains a risk.

Source: Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)