Publications

Socotra’s Forgotten Travelers

Yemen’s civil war has cast a shadow over Socotra, the Indian Ocean archipelago governorate, and the daily lives of its residents. Before the war began in 2014, there were three flights to and from the islands. The first was operated by Yemenia Airways, the second by small local operator Felix Airways, and the third by …

The Uphill Struggle for Yemeni Women in Academia

April 27 marked the 13th anniversary of the death of Dr. Raufah Hassan, one of Yemen’s most prominent academics, feminists, and activists. In 1993, she founded the first Women’s Studies Unit at Sana’a University, which later became the Empirical Research and Women’s Studies Center.[1] A pioneering undertaking of its time, the research center gained notoriety …

Contract Teachers in Hadramawt: When the Solution Becomes A Problem

The vast size of Hadramawt governorate, nearly a third of Yemen’s total area, presents a daunting task for the Yemeni government in providing public services and meeting the demands of scattered communities. With the onset of war, the practice of employing contract teachers — educators hired on a contractual basis rather than full time — …

Childhood Lost: No Respite in the Recruitment of Yemen’s Child Soldiers

Although short-lived, Yemen’s truce, brokered in April 2022, led to a period of relative calm. Many hoped that the thousands of child soldiers recruited by the different warring parties — reportedly 2,233 in the period from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, alone would leave combat and return to finish their education. Sadly, this …

Al-Aqsa Flood and the Battle of the Promised Conquest: How the Houthis Mobilize Popular Support

Since day one, the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) has openly supported and praised the Al-Aqsa Flood operation launched by Hamas on October 7. The group has pledged its full support to the Palestinian resistance in its war against the Israeli army, which is waging a military campaign in the Gaza Strip aimed at dismantling Hamas …

A War of Attrition: Higher Education in Yemen

Introduction The war has broken many of the basic elements of Yemeni society — but the legacy of its now-shattered higher education system will endure far beyond the cessation of hostilities. Unpaid salaries, plummeting enrollment, and unregulated privatization have eroded the quality of Yemen’s higher education system and left it teetering on the brink of …

Feeling Forgotten: Yemeni Refugees, Host Countries, and the UNHCR

Since the outbreak of the war, Yemenis have sought to escape the scourges of violence, economic collapse, and political instability. Some have made arduous journeys to Djibouti, Somalia, and Somaliland[1] on small fishing boats to reach safety,[2] and now reside in their respective capitals.[3] Others have sought refuge in Ethiopia, where they are mostly found in remote areas on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.[4] A number have been able to reach Jordan and Egypt, most of whom now live around Al-Ju……

What Awaits the Presidential Council in Aden

The replacement of President Abdo Rabbu Mansour Hadi with an eight-man presidential council was long-awaited by Yemenis both inside the country and in the diaspora. Bringing together the main factions within the anti-Houthi camp, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) quickly garnered international support – the US, UK and United Nations Security Council welcomed the creation of the PLC, while the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, along with a number of European and Arab ambassadors, attended the swearing-in of the council in Aden on April 19. …

The Gas Crisis in Taiz: War, Mismanagement and Exploitation

Introduction The ongoing conflict in Yemen has resulted in protracted crises in public service provision in multiple sectors across the country. In Taiz governorate in central Yemen, the war has driven critical gas shortages, particularly in the besieged capital, Taiz city. Taiz city has been under either total or partial blockade by the armed Houthi …

The Impact of War on Civil Society Organizations in Marib

Introduction Nestled in central Yemen and bordering several other major governorates, including the capital Sana’a, Marib has stood out as the main engine of the country’s economy in recent decades.[1] However, despite its oil and gas wealth, the governorate remained impoverished due to a policy of marginalization adopted by the government of late president Ali …
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