Yemen Observer

Female genital circumcision still on the rise in Yemen

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:18:16 PST

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) refers to several different harmful practices involving the cutting of the female genitals. It is estimated that about three million girls, the majority under 15 years of age, undergo the procedure every year.

Jews in land of nightingales

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:15:19 PST

The trip from the enchanting Green Capital of Yemen, Ibb, will not take you long since Odain city lies only 30 kilometers away. You will venture with pleasure through Ibb winding roads, getting lost in the shades of greens and the splendor of the scenery unfolding before your eyes.

Alcohol sells from hidden points in Yemen

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:09:21 PST

Farouq a 28 year old resident of Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, never thought he would ever in his life drink alcohol since the beverage is strictly forbidden in Islam.

IRIN: Fighting in north Yemen leads to fresh displacements

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:38:40 PST

HAJJAH, 31 January 2012 (IRIN) - Ahmad Hussein Naji, 75, and his wife Taqwa, spent three days in the open after fleeing clashes in Kisher District in Yemen’s northern governorate of Hajjah before eventually finding shelter in a school in the neighbouring district of Khairan al-Muharaq.

Yemen President’s visit to the United States has other purposes than medical treatment

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:41:31 PST

Ahmed Al-Sofi, President Saleh’s Media advisor, spoke on January 25th to Yemen Observer on the recent visit of Saleh to the United States and cited concerns over the possible failure of the presidential election.

YEMEN: Little hope of swift return for Abyan IDPs, says report

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:58:00 PST

ADEN, 25 January 2012 (IRIN) - When Abdullah al-Hasani, 55, fled his home in the Khanfar District of Yemen’s Abyan Governorate eight months ago, he hoped some day to return and grow watermelons.

African refugees to Yemen surpass expectation, says UN report

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:00:46 PST

GENEVA, January 20 (UNHCR) – Despite growing instability and a worsening security situation in Yemen, a record 103,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants risked the perilous high seas to reach the Middle East nation from Africa.

Al- Hujrain, Yemen’s treasure trove

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:04:11 PST

If you wish to admire the ancient Yemeni city, you should really look up to better marvel at the architectural genius of its high buildings. Perched on the versant of the mountain, al-Hujrain looks as if born from the heavens, descending on earth from above.

Campaign in Yemeni to revolt against Qat

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:12:28 PST

Qat, the curse green plant of Yemen for decennia is now the object of a banning campaign “No to Qat” starting Thursday, January 12/2012. The campaign launched by a group of Yemeni activists is urging fellow nationals not to chew Qat on Thursdays as a way to introduce a more permanent banning of the narcotic plant. They are actually looking at making January 12th a national day in a bid to highlight the danger of the plant and its negative effects on its consumers.

IRIN: Yemen coping with unrest - aid workers turn to the community

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:52:39 PST

SANA'A, 11 January 2012 (IRIN) - Unrest in Yemen for almost a year has affected the government’s capacity to function, forcing aid agencies to work more closely with, and through, community-level partners and volunteers, says a senior aid worker with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Qat diminishes Yemen water resources

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:17:15 PST

Still popular, qat chews provide an important forum for debate and dialogue in Yemen. Nearly every Yemeni chews; even old age and toothlessness fail to stop some. Taking a closer look at the agricultural, social, community, and health effects that this plant has on qat chewers will help us understand why it is so dangerous to Yemenis.

Qat depletes Yemen water resources

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:42:21 PST

A difficult road ahead for Yemen's political transition

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:38:24 PST

On Nov. 23, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh belatedly fulfilled his pledge to sign the GCC initiative. His signing potentially opened space for a peaceful transfer of power and far-reaching reforms.

Yemen receives march from Taiz by roses, accusations and attacks

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:07:03 PST

The organizing committee of the revolutionary council apologized to the youth and the demonstrators who came from Taiz marching, for the attack they launched “mistakenly” against them

IRIN: Yemen malnutrition data should "shock"

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:58:31 PST

DUBAI, 27 December 2011 (IRIN) - Aid workers hope "shocking" new malnutrition figures from a survey conducted in western Yemen will help highlight the serious humanitarian situation in the country and prompt donors to act immediately.

2011, Year of Change in Yemen

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:55:57 PST

Yemen witnessed unprecedented and great events during 2011 like some other Arab countries which were swept by the so-called Arab Spring.

Explorer Strandsberg concludes first phase of Yemen expedition

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:03:51 PST

For supporting Yemen and to prove Yemen is well despite all unrest during the past 10 months a traveler from Sweden decided to walk from Tihama region in the west of Yemen up to Sana’a city the capital of Yemen.

Arab Day for Disabled celebrated in Yemen

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:26:41 PST

Under the slogan, “Education is a right for everyone,” the Yemeni Forum for people with disabilities held a workshop on the occasion of the Arab Day for the disabled on Tuesday in cooperation with the British Council, which marks the 13 December of each year.

Yemen new ministers, First decisions and tasks

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:19:28 PST

People are eagerly looking forward to know the decisions and changes that the new ministers will do in their new consensus government, on their early days in office. There are so many rumors over their tasks and decisions. This report reviews the most important decisions in their first days, after their appointment.

HRW: Yemen's new government should stop child marriage

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:52:52 PST

Widespread child marriage jeopardizes Yemeni girls’ access to education, harms their health, and keeps them second-class citizens, Human Rights Watch said in a report released last Thursday.

New Yemen being built

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:30:56 PST

Yemenis have just started to rebuild their country after about one year of wars and unrest.

Yemen: What’s next? Yemenis hope for peace, security and equality

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:23:39 PST

Following the signing of the Gulf initiative and its implementation mechanisms in Riyadh by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, representatives of the General Peoples’ Congress (GPC)and the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), celebrations broke out throughout Yemen as its people hoped that the historical moment would herald a new era for the nation.

Yemeni Communities Working Together To Save Water

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:48:01 PST

Yemen may be water poor but the country has a rich heritage of managing scare water resources effectively through community co-operation.

Yemeni ancient capital Sana’a damaged by violent unrest

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:05:37 PST

Much is at stake in the old city, its buildings covered in geometric designs of white gypsum and glimmers of stained glass, a place so striking that it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fresh challenges for migrants in Yemen, report

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:32:33 PST

SANA'A, 9 November 2011 (IRIN) - Thousands of Africans continue to seek refuge in Yemen, despite continuing conflict and increasing xenophobia.