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- STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Yemen
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- Yemen - Public Announcement
- May 17, 1994
-
- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
- Office of the Spokesman
-
- For Immediate Release
-
- The U. S. government has learned that Islamic extremists may be
- planning to initiate a hostage-taking against Westerners in Yemen.
- U.S. citizens could be at risk as potential targets. U.S.
- government agencies continue to evaluate this report and will
- provide additional information as available.
-
- U.S. citizens continue to be warned that they should avoid travel
- to Yemen and should depart the country if already there.
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- STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Yemen
- ============================================================
- Yemen - Consular Information Sheet
- January 24, 1995
-
- Country Description: Yemen is a republic governed by a
- presidential council, prime minister and cabinet, and a
- constitutional parliament. Islamic ideals and beliefs provide the
- conservative foundation of the country's customs, laws and
- practices. Yemen is a developing country, and modern tourist
- facilities, except in the major cities, are not widely available.
-
- Entry Requirements: Passports and visas are required. Entry to
- Yemen may be denied to persons with passports showing Israeli visas
- or entry/exit stamps. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended.
- Chloroquine-resistant malaria suppressants are recommended for
- travel to areas outside the city of Sanaa. For more details, the
- traveler 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.
-
- Areas of Instability: Travel within Yemen, particularly to the
- tribal areas north and east of Sanaa, can be dangerous. Disputes
- between different tribal groups and between tribal groups and the
- government have sometimes led to violent incidents. These disputes
- have sometimes led to the kidnapping of westerners, including
- Americans. The situation is now exacerbated by the political
- involvement of rival groups. 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.
-
- Travel to the Yemeni-Saudi border area can also be dangerous.
- Clashes have been reported along the border area to the north and
- east of Sanaa and in the far east of Yemen, near Oman. Tensions
- along the Yemeni-Saudi border can escalate quickly, and Americans
- contemplating travel to border areas should contact the U.S. Embassy
- in Sanaa for the latest information.
-
- Armed hijackings of vehicles, accompanied in some instances by
- violence, occur in many parts of the country, including the capital.
- Urban violence has been a problem in the past. Foreign embassies
- and Yemeni government buildings have been the targets of bombs and
- rockets planted or fired by unknown individuals or groups. Such
- incidents present a danger to U.S. citizens in Yemen.
-
- Other potential hazards to travelers are land mines and unexploded
- ordnance left over from the 1994 civil war in areas where fighting
- took place in the six southern provinces.
-
- Medical Facilities: Basic medical care and medicines are available
- in the principal cities of Yemen, but not necessarily in outlying
- areas. The altitude of Sanaa (7200 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. Supplemental medical insurance with specific
- overseas coverage has proven useful. The international travelers
- hotline at the Centers for Disease Control, telephone (404)
- 332-4559, has additional useful health information.
-
- Information on Crime: The most serious crime problem affecting
- travelers to Yemen is the armed, at times violent, hijacking of
- vehicles. Travelers occasionally have 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.
-
- 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.
-
- 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
- possible dual nationality.
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- Photography Restrictions: Specific permission is required for the
- use of video cameras. Photography of military installations,
- equipment, or troops is forbidden, and in the past has led to the
- arrest of U.S. citizens. Such sites are not always obvious; if in
- doubt, it is useful to ask specific permission.
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- Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy can
- obtain updated information on travel and security within Yemen.
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- Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen is located at
- Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The
- telephone number is (967) (1) 238-843 through 852. The workweek in
- Yemen is Saturday through Wednesday.
-
- No. 95-010
-
- This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated July 29, 1994,
- to revise the section on areas of instability.
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