Civil Society

Two million Yemeni children of school age are out of school, and over 1600 schools are out of use as a result of conflict.

Dr Sawsan al-Refaei finds that this book represents a critical and timely contribution to the current debates on the near future of conflict in Yemen, by drawing on lessons learned from the four years preceding the war. It provides valuable insights to the on-going efforts to resume peace talks in Yemen.

The Mothers of Abductees Association is a new addition to the record of Yemeni women who remain marginalized but are able to stand together courageously.

In a country torn apart by conflict, creativity in implementing strategies is key to help achieve SMEPS’s main goals in Yemen.

Three years of war has cost Yemen a huge number of human lives. But what about the animals?

Youth in Yemen make up the majority of the population; it is estimated that people between the ages of 0–24 constitute more than 60 per cent of the population.

The spread of new and diverse radio channels in Hadramout has broken the monopoly of official radio channels, creating a democratic space.

4.5 million students are deprived of education in 2017 as a result of the strike by teachers, who demand their salaries, which remain unpaid for more than a year. 

There are many stories of love in the time of war, but as Yemeni society is conservative, heroes and heroines often prefer not to share their stories. Is not sharing caused by fear or is it the simple reason of keeping those love stories personal and passionate for a lifetime? At times like this, it’s hard to tell.

Harassment has become an everyday occurrence that weighs on women – a matter of anxiety whenever they think of leaving their houses.

Away from all the media attention, Nouria Naji continues her humanitarian work silently. Yemeni Education and Relief Organization, which she created in 2003, offers education services, helps the poor, and deals with street begging.

Civil society in post-colonial and developing countries was created in circumstances different to those in European countries. The contrast is evident as CSOs in countries such as Yemen are hindered by key local social entities, like government, tribes, political parties and religious sects.

Visiting public spaces or traveling to other governorates is no longer easy for all Yemenis. There are many obstacles faced by Yemeni citizens. One of the main obstacles is the insecurity.

al-Qahirah Castle sits on Mount Sabr overlooking the city of Taiz, and stands as an additional element to the beauty of the natural landscape that surrounds the city. The castle was mentioned in the writings of many travelers and historians, including Ibn Battuta (1377) and Yaqout al-Hamawi (1229).

Mohammed al-Munaifi and I met in one of the neighborhoods in Taiz. The 11-year-old puts his earphones into his small ears and turns up the volume to watch cartoons. He told me that he does this to escape the sound of missiles that the militias have been dropping on Taiz since their takeover of the city and its surroundings.

The difference between qat and sesbania is that sesbania spreads unsystematically and without human intervention. 

In a time when 82 per cent of Yemenis need humanitarian assistance, various initiatives organized by university students in Taiz aim to offer a glimpse of hope for many families who have lost their daily bread.