Security Informations JEMEN
 

Hi all,

I am planning to cross Jemen on southest possible Route to Aden. The last month were several Informations spread about the Security and possible Kidnapping. Any informations about regional threats of kidnapping or whatsoever would be nice!

Thank you very much.

Jan

My understanding (based on information through work) is that the higher risk areas are to the north of the country and in particualr around the border region with SA. Generally, the kidnap risk in Yemen is related to tribal differences and in almost all cases the tribes use the "victim" as a bargaining chip for their objectives - which are not really financially related. In almost all cases the victim is released un harmed. A friend of mine has been "kidnapped" three times in the same region because the locals wanted a road sealed.

The recent cases are a departure from the norm in Yemen and are certainly cause for concern, but there is no evidence that this is a new development in Yemen per se, some suggest that the reason the victims were killed was due to a botched recuse attemtp but I don't know about that.

Best to check the FCO guidelines on the area but I think if you stay to the south you should be OK.

J

Hi together,

I just wanted to check, if anybody just travelled through Yemen and have updated news from this area.

My trip is starting the 2nd of January and I am not quite sure to risk crossing Yemen via the south to Mocca.

Any new news from somebody travelled there lately, would be very helpful.

Have a nice X-Mas whereever you are.

Jan

Haven't been there for two years, but the situation has apparently changed. Al-Qaeda has murdered several tourists, one lot with a suicide bomber in Wadi Hadramawt, an area hitherto considered safe. They had an escort.

I suspect that the chances of being hit by this kind of attack are a lot less than being hit by a vehicle on the road, but it's a little hard to guess that sort of thing. My feeling is: when tourists become targets it's best to stay away.