From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Yemen Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 19:27:38 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2038 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199812311430_MC2-651F-40FE@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 191 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Yemen ============================================================ YEMEN - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT December 30, 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman The United States Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Yemen in light of the violent kidnapping incident on December 28 and 29, 1998, involving Americans and other foreign nationals, in which four of the hostages were killed. American citizens in Yemen should exercise a high level of vigilance and avoid travel outside major cities. American citizens currently traveling or residing in Yemen should contact the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa by telephone or fax for up-to-date information on security conditions. For additional general information on travel to Yemen, please consult the State Department's Consular Information Sheet for Yemen. Please also refer to the December 24, 1998 Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which urges American citizens traveling or residing abroad to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security practices. This Public Announcement expires on March 1, 1999. Yemen - Consular Information Sheet November 3, 1998 COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Republic of Yemen was established in 1990 following unification of the former Yemen Arab Republic (North) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South). It is governed by a president, prime minister and cabinet, and an elected parliament. Islamic and traditional ideals, beliefs and practices provide the foundation of the country's customs and laws. Yemen is a developing country, and modern tourist facilities, except in the major cities, are not widely available. The capital city is Sanaa. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passports and visas are required. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended. For more details, travelers can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen, Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, telephone (202) 965-4760; or the Yemen Mission to the U.N., 866 United Nations Plaza, Room 435, New York, N.Y. 10017, telephone (212) 355-1730. Americans who consider studying in Yemen should make this fact clear to a Yemeni consular official in the United States and apply for the appropriate visa. Some Americans studying in Yemen without official permission have been deported. RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS: Yemeni government security organizations have arrested and expelled foreign Muslims, including Americans, who have associated with local Muslim organizations considered to be extremist by security organs of the Yemeni government. Any American in Yemen who is considering associating with any political Islamist or fundamentalist Islamist group should discuss those intentions with a Yemeni consular official in the U.S. before traveling to Yemen. Americans risk arrest, if they engage in either political or other activities which violate the terms of their admission to Yemen. AREAS OF INSTABILITY: Travel within Yemen can be dangerous, particularly in the tribal areas north and east of Sanaa, in southern areas such as Abyan Province and Aden, and areas close to the undemarcated border with Saudi Arabia. Yemeni security officials advise against casual travel to rural areas. If travel to these areas is necessary, the risk to personal security may be reduced, if such travel is undertaken by air or with an armed escort provided by a local tour company. Armed carjackings may occur in any part of the country, including the capital. Other potential hazards to travelers include land mines and unexploded ordnance left over from the 1994 civil war in areas in the six southern provinces where fighting took place, particularly around Aden. AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, nor economic authority to operate such service between the U.S. and Yemen, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Yemen's civil aviation authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Yemen's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at telephone 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at telephone 1-703-697-7288. MEDICAL FACILITIES: The altitude of Sanaa (7,200 feet) and lack of adequate medical facilities can cause problems for some visitors. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, has proven to be useful. Chloroquine-resistant malaria suppressants are recommended for travel to areas outside the city of Sanaa, especially along the coasts. For further information on vaccine recommendations and disease prevention, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at 1-888-FYI-TRIP (394-8747), or their autofax service at 1-888-232-3299, or on their Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov. INFORMATION ON CRIME: The most serious problems affecting travelers to Yemen are kidnapping and carjackings. Although precise statistics are not available, approximately twenty foreign business persons, aid workers, and tourists have been kidnapped in Yemen in the last few years by tribes seeking leverage in disputes with the government. Kidnappings occur throughout the country, both in major cities and in rural areas. Although not specifically targeted, Americans have been among those kidnapped; some have been held for several weeks. Thus far, the Yemeni government has been successful in resolving these crimes without violence, but settlements between the government and the kidnappers usually include an understanding that the perpetrators will not be prosecuted. Consequently, some tribes have committed repeated kidnappings. Americans planning travel in the countryside that is not organized by an established tourist agency are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa before traveling. Occasionally, travelers have also been victims of petty street crime. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security, and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa." They are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. ROAD SAFETY: Travel by roads in Yemen should be considered risky. The driving habits of Yemeni drivers are poor, and many times the vehicles are in poor condition. Driving after dark is especially dangerous because many roads are not lit, vehicles frequently do not have lights, and road construction areas may not be clearly marked. During rainy seasons, roads throughout the country may be completely washed out and impassable. Flash floods can strike without warning. Carjackings are common, especially with four wheel drive vehicles. DRUG PENALTIES: Travelers are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. The use of the mild stimulant "qat" is legal and common in Yemen, but it is considered an illegal substance in many other countries, including neighboring Arab countries and the United States. DUAL NATIONALITY: The government of Yemen may not recognize the U.S. citizenship of persons who are citizens of both Yemen and the United States. This may hinder the ability of U.S. consular officials to assist persons who do not enter Yemen on a U.S. passport. Dual nationals may also be subject to national obligations, such as taxes or military service. Travelers can contact an embassy or consulate of Yemen for further information on Yemeni policy. PHOTOGRAPHY RESTRICTIONS: Photography of military installations, including airports, equipment, or troops is forbidden. In the past, such photography has led to the arrest of U.S. citizens. Military sites are not always obvious. If in doubt, it is wise to ask specific permission from Yemeni authorities. EMBASSY LOCATION/REGISTRATION: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security conditions within Yemen. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa is open for American citizen services between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. The U.S. Embassy is located at Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The telephone number is (967)(1) 238-843 through 238-852. * * * * This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 18, 1998, to update information on areas of instability, aviation safety oversight, medical facilities, information on crime, road safety, and photography restrictions. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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