Yemen: Border restrictions to be eased Nov. 13 /update 3

Event

On Monday, November 13, Saudi Arabian authorities announced that airports and seaports in Yemen, closed since a blockade by the Saudi-led regional coalition was put in place on November 6, will reopen within 24 hours. The ports scheduled to reopen are in the coalition-controlled cities of Mocha, Mukalla, and Aden (previously reopened on November 8). The Saudi government has asked for a team of UN experts to discuss how ports in Houthi rebel-controlled areas, such as the port of Hodeida, could be reopened while ensuring that weapons are not smuggled into the country.

Previously, on Saturday, the transportation ministry announced that commercial flights to the cities of Aden and Seiyun would resume the following day; however, on Sunday the airline Yemenia announced it did not have the necessary permits to resume operations. It is unclear when exactly flights will resume.

Also on Monday, the leader of the Houthi rebels, Saleh Al-Sammad, announced his intention to continue retaliatory actions against Saudi Arabia over the blockade during a rally in the Yemeni capital Sana'a attended by thousands of supporters. The Houthis previously threatened last week to attack Saudi and UAE airports, seaports, and other forms of civilian infrastructure.

Context

On November 6, the Saudi-led coalition announced a temporary closure of all land borders, seaports, and airports in Yemen. The decision came two days after a ballistic missile was intercepted in the Saudi capital Riyadh, resulting in an explosion at King Khalid International Airport (RUH). The Saudi-led coalition blamed Houthi rebels for launching the missile at the airport, and accused Iran of supplying them with weapons. The border closures were reportedly aimed at curbing the flow of arms from Iran to the rebels.

The Saudi-led coalition faced much scrutiny from the UN and international community over the blockade in Yemen, as the country is currently in the midst of a widespread humanitarian crisis involving famine, cholera, and high casualties from years of civil war. Humanitarian groups alleged that the border closures, which disrupted aid shipments, could bring millions of Yemeni citizens closer to "starvation and death." Previously, on November 8, officials and witnesses claimed that the blockade of the Aden seaport was lifted, allowing the port to resume work and receive humanitarian aid. On November 9, the Al-Wadea land border crossing on the Saudi-Yemeni border was also reopened for humanitarian reasons.

Yemen has been engaged in a complex and deadly conflict since Houthi rebels started fighting the international coalition-backed government in 2015. In total, approximately 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and over 3 million have been displaced, with much of the country's critical infrastructure damaged or in ruins. The war has also sparked a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 755,000 people to date. The humanitarian situation is dire in many parts of Yemen.

Advice

Individuals are advised to defer all travel to Yemen until further notice. The security environment throughout the country remains complex, and due to poor security conditions, many Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place, and professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.