I've been getting a lot of messages from people back home in regards to the current security situation in Yemen and seeing as things are starting to escalate, I feel its time to address the issue.
Whereas a few weeks ago many people didn't have any idea of Yemen's existence, now suddenly the country is on everyone's radar. After the bombings by the Yemeni government with the support of the US (which supposedly killed 30 Al-Qaeda members, though it was actually four or five, the rest were civilians) and other occurrences within the last month, the foreign community has expressed fear of retaliation against the US and the foreign population here. The security situation is further complicated by the insurgency in the north and the secessionist movement rising in the south. Yesterday, both the American and British Embassies closed down and today, embassies from France and Japan followed and those of Spain and Germany have tightened their security.
First off, I'm fine and so is the rest of the foreign community here. Many people are getting worried, but the media hype and concerns expressed from family and friends back home is more of a contributor to the developing fear than an actual change in conditions here. That's how "terrorism" works. The threat has always been here. We all knew about the presence of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups long before coming to Yemen, but Sana'a has always felt very safe and the people in our town have always looked after us. Honestly, I'm more afraid of what the US will do and as a result, what they will incite, than I am about any terrorist group on their own.
As far as precautions go, we've been trying to be as smart as possible. We don't go out in big groups and have been staying in at night. We didn't even go out for New Years to avoid unwanted attention and avoid hot spots for foreigners. We've been careful about telling people where we live and what we're doing here. The female students have even been wearing the nicab (black robe providing full coverage from head to toe) to conceal the foreign look. As far as I'm concerned, I'll be moving out of the YCMES college in the next week and a half to an apartment in Old Sana'a with some friends of mine. That will decrease the threat slightly and if things do escalate quickly, I know a few Yemeni families I can stay with.
For the time being, I'm fine and will hold out as long as I can. To read some current news on the situation, refer to the sites below:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/01/2010149572402958.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/12/2009122935812371810.html
Whereas a few weeks ago many people didn't have any idea of Yemen's existence, now suddenly the country is on everyone's radar. After the bombings by the Yemeni government with the support of the US (which supposedly killed 30 Al-Qaeda members, though it was actually four or five, the rest were civilians) and other occurrences within the last month, the foreign community has expressed fear of retaliation against the US and the foreign population here. The security situation is further complicated by the insurgency in the north and the secessionist movement rising in the south. Yesterday, both the American and British Embassies closed down and today, embassies from France and Japan followed and those of Spain and Germany have tightened their security.
First off, I'm fine and so is the rest of the foreign community here. Many people are getting worried, but the media hype and concerns expressed from family and friends back home is more of a contributor to the developing fear than an actual change in conditions here. That's how "terrorism" works. The threat has always been here. We all knew about the presence of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups long before coming to Yemen, but Sana'a has always felt very safe and the people in our town have always looked after us. Honestly, I'm more afraid of what the US will do and as a result, what they will incite, than I am about any terrorist group on their own.
As far as precautions go, we've been trying to be as smart as possible. We don't go out in big groups and have been staying in at night. We didn't even go out for New Years to avoid unwanted attention and avoid hot spots for foreigners. We've been careful about telling people where we live and what we're doing here. The female students have even been wearing the nicab (black robe providing full coverage from head to toe) to conceal the foreign look. As far as I'm concerned, I'll be moving out of the YCMES college in the next week and a half to an apartment in Old Sana'a with some friends of mine. That will decrease the threat slightly and if things do escalate quickly, I know a few Yemeni families I can stay with.
For the time being, I'm fine and will hold out as long as I can. To read some current news on the situation, refer to the sites below:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/01/2010149572402958.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/12/2009122935812371810.html
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