Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Operational and non-Operational Airports

According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017, due to the conflict in Yemen, "[m]ost of the country's airports have incurred significant damage or been closed to commercial traffic, making travel difficult for all, including refugees" (US 20 Apr. 2018, 24). The UK government similarly states that, regarding air travel in Yemen, the "situation remains very tense and changeable" and that airports may be "closed or inaccessible at little or no notice" (UK 15 Aug. 2018). The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reports that "most international flights have been suspended" in Yemen as airport infrastructure has been damaged (New Zealand 15 June 2018). Eternal Yemen, a tour and travel operator, indicates on its website that, since 26 March 2015, "the air space of Yemen is [under the] control of Saudi Arabia and basically closed for all international airlines," except for Yemenia and FlyDubai (Eternal Yemen n.d.).

According to sources, airports in Yemen were closed after a ballistic missile attack by Houthi forces on Riyadh's international airport in Saudi Arabia on 4 November 2017 (Human Rights Watch 2 Apr. 2018; BBC 7 Nov. 2017; AP 6 Nov. 2017). Similarly, US Country Reports 2017 states that all air crossings in and out of Yemen were blocked from 4 November 2017 until 20 December 2017 (US 20 Apr. 2018, 16).

1.1 Airport in Sana'a

According to sources, Sana'a International Airport was closed on 9 August 2016 (The Guardian 9 Aug. 2017; TeleSUR with Reuters and ABC 10 Aug. 2017; CARE 8 Aug. 2018). Sources specify that Sana'a International Airport has been closed to commercial flights (Mwatana 25 Sept. 2018; CARE 8 Aug. 2018) and remained closed as of 25 September 2018 (Mwatana 25 Sept. 2018). Other sources report that Sana'a International Airport is only open to humanitarian flights (International Crisis Group 15 May 2017; GardaWorld 13 Feb. 2018), as well as military flights "and those with specific authorization" (GardaWorld 13 Feb. 2018). Further information on who may be authorized to access the international airport in Sana'a could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.2 Airports in Aden and Sayoun [Seiyun, Sey'oun]

According to Human Rights Watch, there are two "functioning" airports in Yemen (Human Rights Watch 3 July 2018). Sources explain that the airports in Aden [in the south] and in Sayoun [in Hadramout governorate] are open to civilians (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018; CARE 8 Aug. 2018; Mwatana 25 Sept. 2018). According to an article available on the Yemenia website, "for security reasons," Aden International Airport was closed on 21 February 2016; the airport was expected to reopen in February 2018 (Yemenia 7 Feb. 2018). Yemenia also indicates that, during this period, its flights to Aden were transferred to Sayoun airport (Yemenia 7 Feb. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to a May 2018 article written by a former International Crisis Group project director responsible for the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula, Yemenia is the only airline flying to Aden "[w]ith just one or two flights a day from either Cairo or Amman" (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018). Similarly, Eternal Yemen indicates that "[o]nly" Yemenia flies daily from Yemen to Amman and twice a week to Cairo (Eternal Yemen n.d.). According to the article written by the International Crisis Group former project director, booking a flight with Yemenia is a "challenge" and "competition for the seats is intense" (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018). Sources note that flight costs are "exorbitant" (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018) or "highly inflated" (CARE 8 Aug. 2018). The International Crisis Group former project director indicates that "[s]everal Yemeni friends trying to reach Aden … [were] told the flights [were] all booked"; however, the former project director was "surprised to see that one third of the seats [on her flight] [were] empty" (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018).

1.3 Other Airports

Mwatana for Human Rights (Mwatana), a Yemeni human rights organization (Mwatana n.d.), indicates, in a submission to the UN, based on information provided by "a credible source," that the airports in Hodeidah [Hodeida] and Taiz "were closed when the conflict began in 2015" (Mwatana 29 Mar. 2018). Similarly, a June 2018 article by the news website Middle East Eye (MEE) reports that Hodeidah's airport "has not had a functioning airstrip for some time" (MEE 22 June 2018).

According to Eternal Yemen, FlyDubai flies once a week from Dubai to Socotra Island and once a week from Socotra to Dubai (Eternal Yemen n.d.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Security Measures

The article written by the International Crisis Group former project director, who traveled to Aden from Cairo in February 2018, notes that United Arab Emirates (UAE)-allied Yemeni security forces control the airport in Aden and that a "new military-style barrier made of large sand-filled canvas bags is under construction around the airport perimeter" (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018). According to the same source, the Aden airport's "terminal is closed to car traffic for security reasons" (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018). The BBC reports that "after the Yemeni Houthi rebels launched a long-range ballistic missile" on Riyadh's international airport in Saudi Arabia,

[p]ro-southern [newspaper] Aden al-Ghad reported on 7 November that security forces at Aden International Airport had reinforced security procedures, adding that forces had been deployed around the airport. It added that a number of roads in the area surrounding the area had been closed off, and quoted conscripts from the forces protecting the airport as saying that the measures were in place to "confront any danger from terrorist groups." (BBC 7 Nov. 2017)

Sources report that, due to the conflict, access to operational airports in Yemen involves long travel times (International Crisis Group 15 May 2017; CARE 8 Aug. 2018; The Guardian 9 Aug. 2017), as well as the crossing of checkpoints (International Crisis Group 15 May 2017) or "conflict frontlines" (CARE 8 Aug. 2018). Mwatana similarly explains that long distances and "many checkpoints and front lines" make it "difficult" for civilians to reach functioning airports (Mwatana 25 Sept. 2018).

A June 2018 release by Mwatana states that its Executive Director was detained at a checkpoint in Marib governorate while he was on his way to Sayoun "for the purpose of travelling abroad" and that security forces confiscated his passport (Mwatana 14 June 2018). Similarly, Amnesty International indicates that Mwatana's Executive Director was arrested by security forces while he was headed to the Sayoun airport (Amnesty International 14 June 2018).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a former academic and retired diplomat, with years of experience in Yemen, indicated that Yemenis, from Houthi-controlled areas or other parts of the country, who are not Houthi partisans, can travel abroad from Aden, where there are flights to Cairo; he explained that a personal contact of his, who lives in Sana'a, "recently fled with his family to Cairo by this route after facing death threats from Houthi activists" (former academic 10 Oct. 2018). The same source added that he heard of another Yemeni citizen [1] who also traveled through this route (former academic 10 Oct. 2018).

The former academic indicated that Houthis and their partisans who need to travel abroad do not have "direct access" to an airport and have to travel by land to the eastern province of Mahra, and from there to Oman (former academic 10 Oct. 2018). The same source added that the Saudi Arabian forces "have secured control of much of Mahra province and may detain Houthis trying to make their way out of the country" (former academic 10 Oct. 2018). The former academic noted that "some, usually injured or political figures, can travel on Omani military aircraft from Sana'a to Oman from time to time," although a Houthi delegation travelling on an Omani aircraft to Geneva for peace talks was recently prevented from leaving Yemen after attempting to add injured partisans to the list of passengers; "the Saudis said that they would need to approve the passengers who were being transported" (former academic 10 Oct. 2018).

2.1 Entry and Exit Controls

Information on entry and exit controls at international airports, including on documents required for citizens to leave the country, as well as whether a person wanted by the authorities can leave the country, was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Mwatana provides the following information concerning access to Aden:

Since the expulsion of Ansar Allah [Houthi]-Saleh forces from Aden and some southern areas in 2015, [the Security Belt forces] [2] allow those who do not have identification documents issued from the southern governorates to enter the city of Aden only when they have a passport and a plane ticket from Aden International Airport.

Constraints on movement continue to be imposed on Yemeni people including entry into Arab and foreign countries. (Mwatana [2018])

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The article written by the International Crisis Group former project director indicates that there is an entrance checkpoint to access Aden airport and that "passport control is open, if sparsely manned given the limited flights" (International Crisis Group 23 May 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The former academic indicated that Yemenis, traveling by air from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to Sayoun, "were allowed to leave … without any problem" as long as they "had their exit Saudi visas, and for those going to [Jeddah from Sayoun,] [they] either had a re-entry or visiting/Umrah/Haj (i.e. pilgrimage) visas" (former academic 10 Oct. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

US Country Reports 2017 provides the following information:

In the past[,] women needed the permission of a male guardian, such as a husband, before applying for a passport or leaving the country. A husband or male relative could bar a woman from leaving the country by placing a woman’s name on a "no-fly list" maintained at airports. Prior to the conflict, authorities strictly enforced this requirement when women traveled with children, but there were no reports of authorities enforcing this requirement during the year [of 2017]. There were attempts, however, by Houthi rebels to impose similar restrictions on women's international travel. Given the deterioration of infrastructure and lack of security due to conflict, many women reportedly declined to travel alone. (US 20 Apr. 2018, 22)

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2.2 Treatment at Airports

According to sources, authorities at Aden's international airport arrested two members of the Yemeni Baha'i community (Mwatana 25 Sept. 2018; Amnesty International 19 Jan. 2017) in January 2017 (Amnesty International 19 Jan. 2017). Amnesty International explains that the arrestees were approached at the check-in desk by an airport officer and "arbitrarily detained without charge" (Amnesty International 19 Jan. 2017). Mwatana refers to these arrests as examples of "persecution of the Baha'i minority" and reports that the arrestees were released in September 2017 (Mwatana 25 Sept. 2018).

Mwatana reports that on 4 March 2016, Mwatana's Executive Director had his passport confiscated and was "harassed by [the] Ansar Allah group (Houthis)" at Sana'a international airport upon his arrival from Amman in Jordan (Mwatana 14 June 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to sources, Sana'a has been under Houthi control (Al Jazeera 18 Sept. 2018; former academic 10 Oct. 2018) since February 2015 (Al Jazeera 18 Sept. 2018).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The former academic indicated that it was not clear whether the Yemeni citizen had a UK visa or a UK passport (former academic 10 Oct. 2018).

[2] Mwatana describes the Security Belt forces as "a splinter well-armed group of the pro-Hadi forces on the one hand and[,] on the other hand[,] the Hadi-backed Presidential Guar[d] forces, which appear to lack control and popular support" (Mwatana [2018]).

References

Al Jazeera, et al. 18 September 2018. "Yemen: Who Controls What." [Accessed 20 Sept. 2018]

Amnesty International. 14 June 2018. "Yemen: Prominent Human Rights Defender Arrested." [Accessed 10 Oct. 2018]

Amnesty International. 19 January 2017. "Urgent Action: Two Men Forcibly Disappeared." (MDE 31/5519/2017) [Accessed 5 Oct. 2018]

Associated Press (AP). 6 November 2017. "Yemen Flights Cancelled After Saudi-Led Coalition Shuts All Ports." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2018]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 7 November 2017. "Yemen Airline Suspends Flights After Coalition Closes Ports." (Factiva) [Accessed 25 Sept. 2018]

CARE. 8 August 2018. "Yemen: More Bombs than Passengers Dropped at Yemen's Main Airport." [Accessed 25 Sept. 2018]

Eternal Yemen. N.d. "Travel Hints." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2018]

Former academic. 10 October 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

GardaWorld. 13 February 2018. "Transportation." Yemen Country Report. [Accessed 25 Sept. 2018]

The Guardian. 9 August 2017. Karen McVeigh. "Yemen's Health Ministry Says Aiport Closure Has Cost Nearly 10,000 Lives." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 3 July 2018. "US: Renew 'Temporary Protection' for Yemenis." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 2 April 2018. "Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Houthi Missile Attacks Unlawful." [Accessed 20 Sept. 2018]

International Crisis Group. 23 May 2018. April Longley Alley. "Eight Days in Aden - A Forgotten City in Yemen's Forgotten War." [Accessed 20 Sept. 2018]

International Crisis Group. 15 May 2017. April Longley Alley. "The Counter-Productive Isolation of Proud and Hungry Sanaa." [Accessed 20 Sept. 2018]

Middle East Eye (MEE). 22 June 2018. Sondos Asem and Aaya Al-Shamahi. "Fog of War Clouds Hodeidah Airport as Media Disagree About Who Controls Site." [Accessed 20 Sept. 2018]

Mwatana for Human Rights (Mwatana). 25 September 2018. "A Worsening Tragedy." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2018]

Mwatana for Human Rights (Mwatana). 14 June 2018. "Forces Loyal to Hadi Must Immediately Release the Executive Director of Mwatana, Abdulrasheed al-Faqih." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2018]

Mwatana for Human Rights (Mwatana). 29 March 2018. Submission to the United Nations about Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia. Third Cycle 31st Session Human Rights Council, 5-16 November 2018. [Accessed 26 Sept. 2018]

Mwatana for Human Rights (Mwatana). [2018]. "Background." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2018]

Mwatana for Human Rights (Mwatana). N.d. "Mwatana for Human Rights: Document. Support. Influence." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2018]

New Zealand. 15 June 2018. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SafeTravel. "Yemen." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2018]

TeleSUR with Reuters and American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 10 August 2017. "Closure of Yemeni Airport Causes more Deaths than War: Report." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2018]

United Kingdom (UK). 15 August 2018. GOV.UK. "Foreign Travel Advice: Yemen." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2018]

United States (US). 20 April 2018. Department of State. "Yemen." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. [Accessed 19 Sept. 2018]

Yemenia. 7 February 2018. "Director of Aden International Airport Confirms the Return of Flights to and from Aden Next Sunday." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Human Rights Watch; independent journalist who covers Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula; International Crisis Group; Mwatana for Human Rights; PhD holder who has conducted field research in Yemen since 2004; UN – International Civil Aviation Organization; Yemen – Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, Embassy in Ottawa; Yemenia.

Internet sites, including: Al-Araby Al-Jadeed; Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project; Canada – Travel.gc.ca; CountryReports; The Defense Post; Logistics Capacity Assessment; Lonely Planet; Sana'a International Airport; UN – International Civil Aviation Organization, Refworld; US – Bureau of Consular Affairs; Yemen – Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority.