Has anyone here been to Yemen?

[Deep13]

I'm thinking of taking 5 weeks of language classes in Sana'a in May and June.

What did you think? How was the climate? What kind of groceries are available? Is the food super spicy? Are there only Turkish toilets? I'd appreciate any information anyone could offer.

[MADem]

1. It's not really a good time to travel there, IMO.

However, if you are going, your school should have accommodations as well as be able to answer your specific questions, and if they don't, they might not be set up to handle the international community.

Frankly, my advise is "Don't go." You could be snatched up in a "Kidnapping for Dollars" scheme, and this could cause great upset to your family. The US Embassy is down to "key and essential" personnel, and travel is not advised at this time.


FWIW, many countries have travel advisories issued re: Yemen that remain in force.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5685.html
Travel Warning
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
PrintEmail
Yemen

March 27, 2012

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. The Department urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Yemen. U.S. citizens currently in Yemen should depart. Effective September 1, 2011, the Department of State lifted the Ordered Departure status for U.S. government employees at the U.S. Embassy in Sana'a. The embassy remains a restricted staffing post. As staff levels at the embassy are restricted, our ability to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency remains limited and may be further constrained by the fluid security situation. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Yemen issued on September 2, 2011 to provide updated information regarding the security situation in Yemen.

The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high. While political violence in Sana'a has calmed in recent months, violent clashes are still taking place in various parts of the country and may escalate without notice. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration. Terrorist organizations continue to be active in Yemen, including al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). A U.S. citizen was attacked and killed in Taiz on March 18 and the press reports that AQAP has claimed responsibility. The U.S. government remains highly concerned about possible attacks against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses, and perceived U.S. and Western interests. Piracy in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean is also a security threat to maritime activities in the region. See our International Maritime Piracy Fact Sheet at http://travel.state.gov.

U.S. government-facilitated evacuations occur only when no safe commercial alternatives exist. Evacuation assistance is provided on a cost-recovery basis, which means the traveler must reimburse the U.S. government for travel costs. The lack of a valid U.S. passport may hinder U.S. citizens' ability to depart the country and may slow the U.S. Embassy's ability to provide assistance. U.S. citizens in Yemen should ensure that they have proper and current documentation at all times. For more information, see "What the Department of State Can and Can't Do in a Crisis" at Department's Internet website. Evacuation options from Yemen are extremely limited due to the lack of infrastructure, geographic constraints, and other security concerns. The U.S. government typically evacuates U.S. citizens to a safe haven, and travelers are responsible for making their own onward travel plans. Travelers should not expect to be evacuated to the United States.

U.S. citizens remaining in Yemen despite this Travel Warning should limit nonessential travel within the country, make their own contingency emergency plans, enroll their presence in Yemen through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and provide their current contact information and next-of-kin or emergency contact information.

The U.S. Embassy Sana'a is located at Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The telephone number of the Consular Section is (967) (1) 755-2000, extension 2153 or 2266. For after-hours emergencies, please call (967) (1) 755-2000 (press zero for extension) or (967) 733-213 509. From time to time the Embassy may temporarily close or suspend public services for security reasons. Emergency assistance to U.S. citizens during non-business hours (or when public access is restricted) is available through Embassy duty personnel.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and Country Specific Informationcan be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407- 4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers in other countries by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

UNITED KINGDOM TRAVEL ADVISORY: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/yemen


The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Yemen and strongly urge British nationals to leave now. If you don’t leave the country now while commercial carriers are still flying it is extremely unlikely that the British government will be able to evacuate you or provide consular assistance.

The situation in Yemen remains volatile with continuing unrest and violent clashes. The threat of an escalation of violence and disorder remains. If you travel to Yemen against our advice, you should regularly reassess your security and plan any movements around the country carefully. The provision of close security protection and/or a military escort is extremely important for those working and moving around in Yemen. See Local travel

There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Yemen. Terrorists continue to threaten further attacks. There is a high threat of kidnap from armed tribes, criminals and terrorists. See Terrorism.

If you travel to Yemen against our advice, you should register with the British Embassy by e-mailing [e-mail] or calling [phone]. Alternatively you can call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office switchboard on [phone] and ask to speak to the team handling Yemen consular issues.

The British Embassy is operating with only essential staff. The level of consular assistance available to British nationals is limited. If you need urgent consular assistance call [phone]. For urgent assistance outside office hours call [phone].

Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. See Sea travel.

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

CANADIAN GOVT ADVISORY: http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/yemen


YEMEN - AVOID ALL TRAVEL

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to Yemen. The level of risk to foreigners is very high as the security situation has deteriorated significantly. You are strongly urged to leave the country immediately if it is safe to do so. As the situation deteriorates further, roads may be blocked and airports may close on short notice. Check the status of your flight prior to travelling to the airport. If you remain in the country despite this warning, you should be aware that the Government of Canada’s ability to provide any type of assistance is extremely limited.
Tourism is strongly discouraged.

AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL ADVISORY
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Yemen

This Advice was last issued on Tuesday, 12 February 2013. It has been revised and reissued with editorial amendments. We continue to advise against all travel to Yemen and strongly urge all Australians in Yemen to depart. There is a very high risk of terrorist attack and kidnapping in Yemen, including in Sanaa.


We advise against all travel to Yemen due to the very high risk of terrorist attack. We strongly urge all Australians in Yemen to depart.
Australians in Yemen should be aware that any identifiable Western interest could be targeted for attack. Further terrorist attacks are very likely and could occur at any time throughout Yemen.
Terrorists may be planning suicide attacks against Yemeni and foreign interests, including foreign officials, embassies, diplomatic premises and vehicles, and hotels. These locations have been attacked in the past and are very likely to be attacked in the future.
There is a very high risk of kidnapping throughout Yemen, including in the capital Sana’a. A number of foreigners were kidnapped in Sana’a in 2012. Foreigners, including Australians, have been targeted in the past. Some hostages have been killed.
Yemeni Government interests are routinely targeted for attack by terrorists. Australians in Yemen should exercise extreme caution near facilities and installations belonging to the Yemeni authorities, including deployments of security forces and ministries
Political and economic developments in Yemen and the region may prompt large demonstrations. You should avoid protests and demonstrations throughout Yemen as they may become violent.
Routes in and out of Sana’a and the other major cities may be blocked and airports closed or inaccessible with little notice. The international airport in Sana’a may close without notice.
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Yemen and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited.
Piracy occurs against all forms of shipping in and around Yemen's waters and the Gulf of Aden. We strongly advise Australians to maintain a high level of vigilance and to exercise extreme caution when anywhere near these waters. See our advice to Australians travelling by sea for further information.
Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.

[Deep13]

2. Thanks...

An American program is sponsoring several overseas classes in Jordan, Lebannon, Alexandria, Oman, Morocco, and Yemen. The Yemen course is limited to Sana'a which they assure he is pretty safe. Still, all these travel notices are worth considering. The school will arrange accommodations, so I am really just curious about city life there generally. All activities will be supervised by the school.

I was in Jordan last summer and it has the advantage of being familiar, especially since I now know most of the staff. All, I have friends in Lebannon, which also has a State Dept. travel advisory, who want me to visit them. In Morocco the local language is very different than standard Arabic, so it would not be much help in learning. I'm not qualified for the Oman course and it is crazy expensive. Alexandria, Jordan, Morocco, and Lebanon have enough European influence that most people will just assume I want to speak in English or French and will not be much help for my language skills.

There are other programs of course including a few in Cairo.

[MADem]

3. My biggest concern in Yemen would be kidnapping. If you don't look terribly western and know how

to keep a very, VERY low profile (down to the clothes and shoes) you will be half-way OK. If you've got that Wally Cleaver look, though, you might not "blend" too well.

Also, AQ or some entity keeps screwing with the infrastructure--cutting the power lines and the internet, which means communications can be disrupted and that's nerve-wracking. The Saudis are so "off put" that they've built a thousand mile razor wire fence to discourage people transiting through Yemen to SA.


Even Yemenis are being targeted for kidnapping--it's a scary situation.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/Al-Qaida-suspects-kidnap-military-officer-in-southern-Yemen/-/1068/1729210/-/5k3b4o/-/index.html

Al-Qaida suspects kidnap military intelligence officer in southern Yemen


A Russian Red Cross worker recently got shot:

http://yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=6723

Aid worker targeted by gunmen in the Yemeni capital


Also, this situation is coming to a head, and the demos are in Sanaa:

Anger has been growing in Yemen over the continued detention without trial of Yemenis at Guantánamo since the September suicide of Yemeni detainee Adnan Latif, who once had won a court ruling from a U.S. District Court judge ordering his release but whose victory was overturned by an appeals court.

Roughly 90 Yemeni citizens are still being held at the Guantánamo detention camp. The Yemenis currently form the largest group of detainees at the prison.

The fate of the Yemeni prisoners is complicated by the Obama administration’s decision in 2009 to halt repatriation of detainees to Yemen in the wake of the Christmas Day attempt to bomb an aircraft as it was landing in Chicago after a flight from Amsterdam. The would-be bomber, Umar Abdul Mutallab, who had hidden plastic explosives in his underwear, told U.S. investigators that he had been recruited for the mission in Yemen by U.S.-born al Qaida operative Anwar al Awlaki. Awlaki was subsequently killed by a U.S. drone strike.

The moratorium on sending Yemenis home is especially striking in a case such as Shabati’s, one of the at least 23 Yemeni detainees that the Obama administration has said should be transferred out of Guantánamo.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/05/3325899_p2/yemen-begins-push-to-get-citizens.html#storylink=cpy

Finally, my experience has been that warmer temperatures generally don't bring out the best in people. If you were my relative, I'd say go for Jordan before Yemen, if you had a choice.

[Deep13]

4. Yeah, I'm not going to blend in.

6", 300lbs, light skin, blue eyes. When I walked about Irbid, Jordan at night, guys would yell, "Hey! Where you from? Welcome, welcome!" in English. ("America! Ahalan beek! Shokran!&quot

Going to Jordan would give me another crack at Petra. I didn't get very far the first time because the heat made me sick.

Thanks for all this information. I may have to rethink this whole thing.

[MADem]

5. Whatever you decide, keep your wits about you, have fun, and stay safe!

I am a fan of the "Go where you're celebrated, or at least tolerated...not where you're excoriated" school of travel, at least when you've got a choice and the stakes are kind of high.