Statement from the U.S. Embassy

Some of you may have heard that U.S citizens were told to leave Yemen. Here is the actual email from the American Embassy in Sana'a:

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. The Department urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Yemen. U.S. citizens currently in Yemen should consider departing Yemen. The Department of State has authorized the voluntary departure from Yemen of the family members of U.S. Embassy staff and non-essential personnel. This replaces the Travel Warning for Yemen issued October 15, 2010.

Should a crisis occur, evacuation options from Yemen would be extremely limited due to the lack of infrastructure, geographic constraints, and other security concerns outlined below. The U.S. Embassy?s ability to assist U.S. citizens in the event of a crisis in Yemen is very limited. In the event of an evacuation, U.S. law requires the Department of State to bill evacuees for U.S.-government arranged transportation. U.S. citizens remaining in Yemen despite this Travel Warning should make their own contingency emergency plans, enroll their presence in Yemen through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.travel.state.gov, and provide their current contact information and next-of-kin or emergency contact information.

The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. Piracy in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean is also a security threat to maritime activities in the region. Terrorist organizations continue to be active in Yemen, including Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The U.S. government remains concerned about possible attacks against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses, and perceived U.S. and Western interests. There is ongoing civil unrest throughout the country and large-scale protests in major cities. See our International Maritime Piracy Fact Sheet at www.travel.state.gov.

The U.S. Embassy, Sana?a is located at Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The telephone number of the Consular Section is (967) (1) 755-2000, extension 2153 or 2266. For after-hours emergencies, please call (967) (1) 755-2000 (press zero for extension) or (967) 733-213-509. From time to time the Embassy may temporarily close or suspend public services for security reasons. Emergency assistance to U.S. citizens during non-business hours (or when public access is restricted) is available through Embassy duty personnel.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and Country Specific Information can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers in other countries by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

I enrolled in STEP before leaving the States, and since I live in Sana'a but fifteen minutes from the Embassy and 25 from the airport, I don't see poor infrastructure or geographical constraints hindering my ability to evacuate. Perhaps if I lived in Shebwa.

I'm not sure what changed between today and yesterday to make them issue this. The terrorist threat was present when I traveled here in November, so that's nothing new. I doubt the pirates will sail up the mountains and into Sana'a, so cross them off. I guess the protests are the last remaining threat. Those in Sana'a have been peaceful over the past few days, and anti-American or anti-Western rhetoric has played absolutely ZERO role in the chants and slogans of the anti-government protests.

While I cannot say what would happen if Saleh decided to leave, I would bet that the strongest of any resulting violence would be in the south, around Aden. Possibly in Lahj and Abyan. Some Yemenis I work with have told me that if any violence occurred around here, it would be between state security and tribes, leaving the city untouched.

The Yemenis don't much want violence. Latest I've heard is that an organized transition is being discussed, the details being whether Saleh leaves sooner rather than later. The opposition continues to lack unity, as the organized political opposition parties (JMP) are seen by the student protesters as hijacking their movement for their own political gain. This could delay his departure.

It still can't be said what kind of decision this will come to and how well that decision will be accepted by all parties, but I sense that most Yemenis want to avoid the chance of violence.

I have "considered" the situation and decided it is not time to leave. However, I am not an adrenaline junkie and will not stay if a real threat presents itself. The truth is that very little seems to have changed between today and two weeks ago. If the situation worsens and produces a real threat, then it will be time to go.