Yemen

Recommended Vaccinations For Yemen

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Polio Vaccine

Travellers who intend to visit Yemen for 4 weeks or more may be required to show proof of polio vaccination taken 4 weeks to 12 months prior to arrival in the country. Failure to produce this documentation may result in vaccination at the entry ports. Childhood vaccinations, including polio, should be up-to-date prior to travel.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for all travellers over 6 months of age.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Cholera Vaccine

The U.K. NaTHNaC recommends the oral cholera vaccine for some travellers whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, travelling to areas of active cholera transmission. These risk factors include: aid workers; those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to potable water and medical care; travellers for whom the vaccination would be considered potentially beneficial, such as chronic medical conditions. The U.S. CDC recommends the cholera vaccine for travellers who are 18-64 years of age and who plan to travel to areas of active cholera transmission. CDC notes that most travellers do not travel to areas of active cholera transmission, and that safe food and water practices can prevent many cholera infections.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities and who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Recommended Medications For Yemen

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

For anti-malaria medication, the World Health Organization and the US CDC recommends atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Drug resistance to chloroquine is present.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Yemen

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Yemen through contaminated food or water.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Yemen.

Cholera

Cholera outbreaks occur in Yemen. The risk to travellers is low unless living or working in poor sanitary conditions, drinking untreated water or visiting remote areas.

Dengue Fever

Outbreaks of dengue fever may occur.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

For Some Travellers

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Sporadic outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) may occur in Yemen.

Polio

Yemen is infected with vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) with the potential risk of global circulation. Unvaccinated or under-vaccinated travellers are at a higher risk if they come in direct contact with an infected person or through contaminated food and water, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas with poor hygiene standards.

Measles

There is a risk of Measles in this country, especially in infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Leishmaniasis

There is a risk of acquiring Leishmaniasis in this country through sand fly bites, particularly between dusk to dawn. Adventure tourists, outdoor athletes, or humanitarian aid workers are at a higher risk.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

MERS

There is a risk of acquiring MERS-CoV in this country. Scientists do not fully understand how the MERS virus spreads. It is a viral infection transmitted through direct or indirect contact with infected camels or camel-related products. Limited person-to-person transmission through coughing and sneezing from infected persons, typically in healthcare settings, has also been reported. There is currently no vaccine to prevent MERS.

Malaria

There is a risk of malaria throughout the country below 2,000 meters altitude, mainly from September through February. There is no risk in Sana'a. There is a very limited risk on the island of Socotra.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Yemen, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Schistosomiasis

This disease is present in Yemen and is acquired through contact with fresh water, such as swimming, bathing, or rafting. Well-chlorinated swimming pools and contact with saltwater in oceans or seas will not put travellers at risk for schistosomiasis.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in Yemen. Travellers to Yemen are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in the Yemen. Travellers involved in outdoor activities may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Yemen

Personal Safety

Yemen remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for travelers and business visitors. The ongoing civil war since 2014 has created extreme security conditions across the country. Foreign nationals face kidnapping threats from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, ISIS-Yemen, armed tribal groups, and criminal gangs who often sell hostages to terrorist organizations. Kidnappings can happen at any time of day in both urban and rural areas, targeting tourists, business travelers, aid workers, and journalists. Many victims have been murdered. Local law enforcement is largely ineffective and unable or unwilling to respond to serious crimes. Violent crime including armed robbery, carjacking, and muggings is widespread. Military weapons are readily available throughout the country. The Houthis and other armed groups operate extrajudicial detention centers where arbitrary detention is common. Foreign nationals, particularly dual citizens, face risks of detention by Houthi forces. Since 2024, Houthis have detained over 50 UN and NGO personnel. Most foreign embassies, including those of the US and UK, suspended operations in 2015. Consular assistance for foreigners is virtually nonexistent. Basic infrastructure including housing, medical facilities, schools, and utilities has been destroyed by military conflict. Landmines exist throughout the country from current and previous conflicts. Health services are severely degraded with re-emergence of cholera, polio, and measles. Even Socotra Island, sometimes misrepresented as safe, carries significant risks.

Extreme Violence

Yemen experiences severe levels of extreme violence from multiple sources. Terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS-Yemen actively operate and carry out attacks with little warning. AQAP maintains presence particularly in Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt, and Shabwah governorates. Terrorist attacks target public sites, transportation hubs, markets, government buildings, and security forces. Between 2012 and 2014, at least 35 people were executed or murdered for their identity by Ansar al Sharia. Multiple terrorist attacks on tourists have occurred, including the 2007 Ma’rib suicide bombing killing eight Spanish tourists and their drivers, the 2008 Hadhramaut attack killing two Belgian tourists, and 2009 attack killing four South Korean tourists. The ongoing civil war involves regular airstrikes, artillery shelling, and armed clashes between Houthi forces, the Yemeni government, Southern Transitional Council, and foreign military coalitions. Violence has decreased somewhat since an April 2022 truce, but sporadic incidents continue along frontlines in Al-Dhale’e, Hudaydah, Lahj, Ma’rib, Sa’adah, Shabwah, and Ta’izz. Military operations against Houthi targets continue in response to Red Sea shipping attacks. Over 150,000 people have been killed in the war according to UN estimates, with over 227,000 additional deaths from famine and lack of healthcare. Arbitrary killings, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture are common. Children are recruited by armed groups for combat.

Political Unrest

Yemen faces extreme political instability with no realistic prospect of resolution. The country is effectively divided between Houthi forces controlling the capital Sana’a and most of former North Yemen, and the Presidential Leadership Council controlling southern areas with its temporary capital in Aden. The civil war began in 2014 when Houthi forces seized Sana’a and expanded control. Despite a de facto ceasefire since April 2022 and UN announcements of commitments to peace in December 2023, the security situation remains volatile with sporadic fighting along frontlines. The Houthis are designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States and other nations. Since November 2023, Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on Red Sea shipping and missiles toward Israel, triggering international military responses including US and UK airstrikes. In February 2024, Houthi authorities designated the US and UK as hostile states, dramatically increasing risks for Western nationals. Elections are long overdue and normal political activity has ceased. State institutions including the judiciary and central bank are divided between competing authorities. Government corruption is widespread with officials prioritizing personal interests over public services. Protests and demonstrations can occur with little notice and may turn violent. The threat of widescale conflict resuming at short notice remains high. Regional tensions from broader Middle East conflicts could further destabilize Yemen. Neither side shows genuine commitment to sustainable peace despite ongoing negotiations.

Areas To Avoid

All areas of Yemen are dangerous and international governments unanimously advise against all travel. Houthi-controlled northern Yemen, including Sana’a, faces intense airstrikes from multiple actors and carries extreme risk for Western nationals after the US and UK were designated hostile states. The governorates of Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt, and Shabwah have heightened terrorist threats where AQAP and ISIS-Yemen maintain strong tribal connections and operational bases. These areas should be completely avoided. Al-Bayda province has significant AQAP presence. Areas along frontlines in Al-Dhale’e, Hudaydah, Lahj, Ma’rib, Sa’adah, Shabwah, and Ta’izz experience ongoing armed clashes. Ta’izz has been besieged since 2015 with landmines throughout the area. Central highlands and southern regions have extensive landmines and unexploded ordnance. The highway connecting Sana’a, Ta’izz, and Aden carries extremely high kidnapping risks. Sa’ada province and governorate near the Saudi border face particularly severe conditions with unexploded weapons and landmines. Even Aden, the temporary capital, experiences terrorist attacks despite being relatively more secure than other areas. Socotra Island, despite claims by some tour operators, remains dangerous with no valid consular support available. Companies offering trips there with unofficial visas put tourists in legal jeopardy. All road travel outside main city centers, particularly at night, should be avoided due to checkpoints, armed groups, landmines, and criminal activity. Remote rural areas carry elevated kidnapping risks.