Do not travel to Yemen. Under no circumstances. That has been the warning from the United States Government. You cannot travel to Yemen because the country has been classified as Level 4 “Do Not Travel”, the highest tier of the alert system. Kidnappings, terrorism, active wars, organized crime, and a collapsed and almost nonexistent healthcare system. The Government does not want any US citizen to set foot in this country.
What is a Level 4 alert
It is the maximum indication telling people not to travel to that country, basically because the US Government cannot guarantee consular assistance, evacuations, or emergency aid there, even in serious cases. We are talking about places where there is an extreme and unpredictable risk, and Yemen meets all those criteria.
Yemen: a banned country
The situation in Yemen is very complicated. There is an armed conflict that has lasted for many years, multiple armed groups, attacks, kidnappings. We could go on and fill the entire article just with the social, political, and economic problems the country is facing.
On top of that, there is a brutal humanitarian crisis. There is a lack of food, a lack of medicine, and not even basic infrastructure.
No embassy
In Sana’a, the capital, the United States closed its embassy in 2015. Since then, there has been no active diplomatic presence in the country. Because of that, if you face an emergency, there is no one to turn to and no support networks.
The “paradise” that is also a trap
This is where many people get confused. Socotra, the island famous for its unreal landscapes and unique biodiversity, is often sold on social media as a “safe” destination within Yemen, but it is not safe either.
The State Department warns that some tourism agencies distort reality, operate with invalid visas, and promise a level of security they cannot guarantee.
Vital risk
The problem is not only the conflict. If something happens to you in Socotra, the United States cannot help you. Not if you get sick, not if you are detained, not if the situation escalates. And yes, that includes legal problems derived from entering with irregular documentation, something more common on the island than it may seem.
Terrorism
Washington has further reinforced the alert after reclassifying the group Ansarallah (Houthis) as a foreign terrorist organization, specifying that there are no guaranteed “safe zones”.
No healthcare system
Beyond weapons, there is healthcare, or rather, the lack of it. There is no proper healthcare infrastructure. Hospitals are overwhelmed, there are barely any medicines, and there are serious diseases that cannot be treated without adequate hospital care. Any accident or infection can become much more serious.
Other countries on the list
This category also includes Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
A warning
The State Department says that it does not matter if the trip is for tourism, adventure, work, cooperation, journalism, or personal reasons. If you do not have an extreme need to go to Yemen, it is better not to go. And if you decide to go, you do so assuming absolutely all the risks involved, without any backing or safety net.
Yemen is not a safe destination under any circumstances, and it is a shame because it has a beautiful culture and stunning landscapes. Unfortunately, the situation is what it is, and no one will be able to help you if you run into trouble in this territory. It is important to inform yourself before traveling, because it can be the difference between returning home in one piece or not.
Meanwhile, we will continue promoting other destinations and hoping that Yemen recovers from this crisis so that we can one day get to know the country safely.