- a good paper by Yemeni expert Nadwa Al Dawsari, April 2012 Carnegie: Tribal governance and conflict resolution traditions will again play a part in helping to ease tensions and mitigate conflicts that will arise as Yemen moves toward political transition. Tribal mechanisms for conflict resolution need to be ntegrated with the formal system so that they work alongside and complement formal institutions. Issues related to the stresses that the tribal system is facing must be addressed within that framework.

- The Social fund for Development www.sfd-yemen.org issued a “qualitative study it carried out on a sample of 74 of its beneficiary communities. The study quantifies economic and social impact of the events of 2011 on those communities.”

- Senior UN Official Concerned About Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Yemen: New data shows that food insecurity in Yemen has doubled over the last two years. Five million people, or nearly a quarter of the population, are severely food insecure, meaning that they are not able to grow or buy enough food for their family and need urgent assistance. At least 800,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

- Al Bab, Brian Whittiker’s blog, 4/9: The Saleh regime fights back

- HRW: US: Transfer CIA Drone Strikes to Military Ensure Intelligence Agency Abides by International Law

(New York, April 20, 2012) – Remarks by a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official suggesting the agency is not legally bound by the laws of war underscore the urgent need for the Obama administration to transfer command of all aerial drone strikes to the armed forces, Human Rights Watch said today.

The CIA’s general counsel, Stephen Preston, in a speech entitled “CIA and the Rule of Law” at Harvard Law School on April 10, 2012, said the agency would implement its authority to use force “in a manner consistent with the … basic principles” of the laws of war. The laws of war are not mere principles but legally binding restrictions on all forces of the parties to an armed conflict, Human Rights Watch said.

Building a Better Yemen Charles Schmitz Carnegie Paper, April 3, 2012, no comment; haven’t read it yet.

Bernard Haykel covers some of the basics so basic people seem to forget them, at his blog in Yemen after Saleh, What Next for Yemen?

Must read: Reforming Yemen’s Military by Chatham House’s Ginny Hill, March 22, 2012

Southern Observatory for Human Rights monthly report covering January 2012

Yemen – reported US covert actions since 2001 The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, comprehensive list

There’s one more good one somewhere in last months emails that discusses the schism between tribal leaders and their publics that was fostered by years of Saudi and Saleh patronage, ie- thousands in monthly payments, and argues against excessive reliance on Sheikhs as proxies of governance.

WSJ: The Obama administration has given the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. military greater leeway to target suspected al Qaeda militants in Yemen with drones, responding to worries a new haven is being established from which to mount attacks on the West.

The policy shift, as described by senior U.S. officials, includes targeting fighters whose names aren’t known but who are deemed to be high-value terrorism targets or threats to the U.S. The White House stopped short of authorizing attacks on groups of lower-level foot soldiers who are battling the Yemeni government, the officials said.

The National: The police station in Azzan has been turned into the regional headquarters of Ansar Al Sharia, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, to coordinate attacks and expansion opportunities, said Abdullah Baotha, who escaped Azzab last fall, and current residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Residents are forced to comply with Sharia. Most music is forbidden in public areas, with only Islamic songs with voices and drums given as an alternative.

Shop owners are told to grow their beards the length of a fist. Women are not allowed to work and those who need to leave their homes must be covered in a burqa at all times. Curriculum in schools focuses mainly on Islamic law and Quranic preaching.

“Televisions or magazines are not allowed. We know nothing of what happens around us,” said Mr Baotha. “People are scared but cannot express their fear.” He said hundreds of residents succeeded in leaving the district, but thousands remain.

Security forces have been replaced with veiled militants who are stationed at checkpoints throughout the district. The militants roam the streets and occupy every building that used to house a government institution.

Foreign fighters see Azzan as a safe haven. Anwar Al Awlaqi, the Yemeni-American cleric killed in a US drone attack in September, made the district a hideout for three months last year. Residents said at least 200 foreign fighters live in the district and train Yemeni militants. Fighters from Saudi Arabia and Somalia can frequently be seen roaming the area.

Located in the heart of southern Yemen, Azzan is near the oil and gas pipelines of Bahlaf, the country’s most lucrative investment.

Its mountainous terrain makes it hard for government forces to attack from the ground.

“We understand that residents of Azzan are suffering, and the government has them among its top priorities. We have not forgotten them,” said Ali Obaid, the spokesperson of the Yemen Military Committee.

The closest government military presence is in Ataq, the capital of Shabwa, where hundreds of security forces are stationed.

“Al Qaeda has been using Azzan as a stronghold for nearly a year now. They are in control of everything, and residents there are given the choice to obey orders or leave the district,” said a senior security official in Ataq, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Azzan is the launch pad for their attacks. It’s their strategic homeland.”

When you think Shabwa, think al Quso.

Yemen Times: Dozens of soldiers are held inside the Al-Maz Company, owned by Yahya Saleh, nephew of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh (ed- and the US’s Counter Terror liaison). The soldiers were captured during armed confrontations in Dofas on March 4.

Sources close to Ansar Al-Sharia stated that no soldiers were wounded or killed during the recent (ed- US drone) raids.

The militants have demanded that 300 Al-Qaeda militants be released in return for the release of 72 captured soldiers.

With multiple news sites reporting the soldiers are on Yahya’s property, its likely true or was. Since the drones didn’t hit the warehouse, the US probably also knows it too. Collusion between al Qaeda and the top levels of the Saleh regime goes back decades and is undeniable.

The mystery is why the Obama administration is pushing, bullying and threatening the Yemeni opposition in order to keep Saleh’s relatives as heads of the CT units and in other military and security posts.

There were public protests Friday across Yemen chanting, “Restructure the army to stay faithful to the martyrs.” Air Force pilots have been protesting for weeks to replace Saleh’s corrupt brother as AF commander. The US ambassador told them to go back to work, repeatedly.

US Ambassador Feierstein also affirmed repeatedly that the Obama administration believes former dictator Ali Saleh has the right to remain in Yemen active in politics. Saleh was granted immunity for all his crimes as part of the US, UN transition plan. None of “his” assets have been frozen, although they are all ill gotten–stolen, embezzled or the result of black market smuggling.

US aid to Yemen was $326M since 2007. Yet the Yemeni military is still poorly trained and ill equipped as the recent AQ mutilation and slaughter of 150 soldiers demonstrates.

Meanwhile Saleh’s son and head of another CT unit, Ahmed Saleh, has a $5M condo in DC. That’s your taxpayer dollars right there people.

US officials highlight the very real and growing threat of AQAP. Yet contrary to national security concerns, the Obama admin is continuing its efforts to maintain and restore the Saleh regime, which has a long history of colluding with al Qaeda and diverting CT aid.

In 2007, an end use monitoring agreement was signed by the US and Yemen to prevent diversion of US CT funds and military equipment. A 2010 report by the Foreign Relations committee revealed many lapses in US monitoring, ie- missing equipment, US trained CT forces fighting the Houthis and not al Qaeda. The responsible US officials made few if any reforms as a result of the report, and the CT forces were involved in slaughtering hundreds of Yemeni protesters in 2011. What they apparently did was scrub the Military End Use Monitoring Agreement from Sana’a embassy’s website.

Yemen Post: An investigation commission found that the former commander of Southern Region Mahdi Maqwala was involved in supporting Al-Qaeda militants, an Emirate newspaper, Al-Bayan, has quoted Yemeni military sources as saying.

The sources told Al-Bayan on Sunday that Maqwala supported the militants with weapons and helped them to capture military positions in the southern governorate of Abyan….Yemeni politicians (ed- with formal statements) and analysts accused the ousted Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh of using Al-Qaeda to intimidate some Western countries with the aim of keeping his relatives in their military positions.

Governor of Abyan Saleh Al-Zawari has accused military and political services of surrendering Abyan to Al-Qaeda.

In remarks to a local Aden radio, the governor also revealed that tanks, cannons and other military equipments were surrendered to Al-Qaeda militants without any resistance, pointing out that those behaviors were clear evidence of the collusion of some military services with Al-Qaeda.

Clinton today:

CL: The second case I want to touch on today is Yemen. As Yemen unraveled into violence last year, the Security Council stood behind the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Yemeni stakeholders to find a peaceful solution. In the face of setbacks, we held firm. Many challenges lie ahead. But last month’s successful presidential election and inauguration were promising steps on the path toward a new, democratic chapter in Yemen’s history. As Yemen continues its multi-year transition, reforms its constitution, convenes a national dialogue and continues to grapple with its security and humanitarian challenges, we must remain engaged and supportive.

Original: Bingo! I also do not agree with what is happening between al Beidh and Iran. The violence during the election boycott was an entirely new phenomenon which broke with the years long non-violence of the southern movement. As al Nakhbi says, it was likely due to Iranian influence through the al Beidh wing of the SM. Keep in mind Yemen Fox is affiliated with Ali Mohsen, who has his own motives for undermining the SM. But if this is an authentic interview, then that’s what it is.

While there’s noticeably a lot fewer al Beidh photos during the southern protests, its unclear the extent to which awareness of the alliance between al Beidh and Iran has filtered down to the street, although he himself has been threatening the west with Iran for years. General Nuba issued a warning to world about the danger of Iran’s growing influence in the south a few months ago. Many external former leaders are in favor of federalism as expressed at the Cairo conference. I think there’s a few more factions than the two broad ones described.

Al Nakhbi also remarks that the several corporation including the mega Yemeni Economic Military Corp remits its profits directly to Saleh. He notes elite support of al Qaeda and the symbiotic relationship between the including the recent massacre in Abyan. He concludes that Saleh must be excluded from politics. (Actually it necessary to fully depose the Saleh regime in order to integrate the Houthis as well as the southerners.) Its an interesting interview, worth a read:

Yemen Fox: Brigadier General Abdullah al-Nakhbi- Secretary-General of Southern Movement (SM) – said that many politicians believe that who stand behind recent terrorist attacks are remnants of the former regime and that Ali Abdullah Saleh has turned from president of republic to president of terrorism. Priorities of Yemenis whether in National Reconciliation Government or Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) in coordination with Gulf States and Europeans are to dismiss Ali Abdullah Saleh from practicing political action.

Nakhbi added in an interview with “Yemen Fox” that al-Qaeda is supported by Ali Abdullah Saleh, his aides and remnants of his regime, pointing out that supervisors of GCC Initiative should put pressure to implement the second term of the Initiative which is to restructure the army and Republican Guards within Ministry of Defense and Central Security within Ministry of Interior.

Interviewed with Hashem al-Toromah

Yemen Fox: How do you see Yemen after presidential elections?
Nakhbi: after presidential elections, we as Yemenis stand at change door. The new President Abdu Rabo Mansur Hadi should have a courage to start change process. Change process should first prevent Ali Abdullah Saleh from practicing politics because recent events took place after swearing oath starting from Mukalla continuing to Bayda and now in Abyan Province. Many politicians believe that who stand behind that are remnants of the former regime and that Ali Abdullah Saleh has turned from president of republic to president of terrorism.

I believe that priorities of Yemenis whether in National Reconciliation Government or Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) in coordination with Gulf States and Europeans are to dismiss Ali Abdullah Saleh from practicing political action.

I think that Yemenis after elections looked forward to seeing stability and security, but unfortunately Ali Abdullah Saleh exploited immunity and started practicing criminal acts in Yemen including bombings which happened. The first suspects are him, his sons and Mahdi Maquala. The evidence about that is the series that started on May of last year and still continuing to activate the rest of military camps which Saleh’s loyalists are officials on them such as eastern area in Aden where Maquala delivered heavy equipment one week ago to al-Qaeda. This would put barriers in front of other steps which Yemenis long for to achieve this issue.

The first issue which we want the World and people of Yemen to know generally is that Ali Abdullah Saleh has caused problems since Yemen Arab Republic before 1990. There were large economical corporations which did not affiliate to Financial Ministry and never provide revenues to Financial Ministry rather they were allocated to the president such as Cement Institutions, Serdood Farm and telecommunication in north. After 1994 war, he joined all economy of Democratic Republic of Yemen factories, farms, facilities, public properties, 35 institutions in south, more than 32 factories and more than 30 farms and provided their revenues to Yemen Economic Corporation (YECO). Now he gains its profits and interests because it does not provide revenues to Financial Ministry. Barriers also included renting border ports and Qat markets on the level of the whole country. That means, Ali Abdullah Saleh lives safely. From political aspect, he continued holding meetings in General People’s Congress (GPC).

Yemen Fox: you said that remnants of the former regime and Saleh were the first suspect of terrorist attacks, how do you read aggravation of these attacks and tactics implemented by al-Qaeda elements in attacking military camps?

Things are obvious. Now it is undoubtedly clear that al-Qaeda is supported by Ali Abdullah Saleh, his aides and remnants of his regime. The President said in House of Representatives that he would fight terrorism and this is religious and national issue. National Reconciliation Government gave al-Qaeda in Abyan time limit to March 5 last Monday.

Unfortunately, Maquala colluded by bombs, by car bombs targeting brigades stationed in Aden and Abyan, coincided with the resolution issued to dismiss him and appoint General Qatn instead of him in the southern Area. On the day of dismissal, military camp was bombed by a car bomb and equipments of another camp were delivered to al-Qaeda. With this aggravation, he wants to shuffle cards and send message to the others that “I am still here available.”

So, we call on Gulf States that risk is not only on Yemen or Arabian Peninsula but also threatens peace in the Peninsula and the Arab World, there should be strict stance. People look forward to finding state of justice and there should be order and law. Who puts obstacles now is Ali Abdullah Saleh and remnants of the regime. We call on U.S. not to be lenient with him because he is finished and his stay in Yemen practicing political action form a danger to Yemen.

Yemen Fox: how do you see tactics used by al-Qaeda in attacking the army and do you expect that these elements would expand?

I personally consider that this is not planned for by al-Qaeda and it is not its work but work of soldiers who are supposed to confront al-Qaeda. Treason was done by Maquala and Saleh as the first leader of the area planned for al-Qaeda. What happened was that there were large quantities of explosions and cars entered to military camps and that will only be achieved by the army’s plan.

The problem is the presence of Republican Guards and Central Security which affiliate to Ali Saleh. He assembles with his party’s leaders so far. What do you think he is telling them? What issues he might be discussing with them

He discusses with them his saying (if I leave, violence will occur after me and Yemen will divide). Head of snake is still inside Yemen which is Ali Abdullah Saleh. If he leaves, al-Qaeda will leave and remnants of the former regime will finish. Al-Qaeda will not end because there is people who provide it with money and weapon and he , Ali Abdullah Saleh, and his aides.

Yemen Fox: what are the solutions in your point of view if situation in such complexity?
Supervisors of GCC Initiative should put pressure to implement the second term of the Initiative which is restructuring the army and Republican Guards within Ministry of Defense and Central Security within Ministry of Interior. Risk is still ongoing because they did not allow goals of the Revolution to be implemented according to revolutionaries’ plan. Revolutionaries’ plan for change is to disintegrate GPC, National Security, Central Security, Republican Guards and to dismiss corrupt available. Unfortunately, immunity confused the Revolution’s path. We now go in the political path

Yemen Fox: ut President Hadi directed couple of days ago to limit properties of the army which analysts consider primary step for restructuring?
Only leaders of military areas in the army will activate with this decree especially those who joined the Revolution and the council which announced loyalty to the Revolution. Ali Saleh calls on people to cooperate with Hadi because he becomes president. It behooved Saleh to submit Republican Guards, Central Security, National Security and Political Security to Hadi instead of the republican flag.

Yemen Fox: do Hadi’s recent directives consider initial step to restructure the army?
These decrees are of no avail only there is serious start to restructure the army including Yemen Economic and Military Corporation whose revenues go to Ali Abdullah Saleh. There should not be national dialogue in case the army is not restructured. Republican Guards with its equipments and arms should be dragged within Ministry of Defense and the Minister should be the first responsible of the army.

Yemen Fox: For southern area, do you think there will be life with more stability after changing military leadership?
I hope that all people of southern areas would cooperate with new leader and there should be strategy for this leader though which he could confront the ongoing danger in Abyan, Jaar and Zinjubar.

Today, all areas are opened. Al-Qaeda militants carry weapons from Aden waters and carriers pass, with no obstruction, to Zinjubar. Boats come from Somalia directly to Shuqra and then enter to Jaar and Zinjubar. The road is opened towards Marib and Shabwa as if they possess entirely on homeland. I called on leaders of the army and Hadi to be serious to cordon al-Qaeda off from Yafea side, Haroor and Aden.

Yemen Fox: you as SM, what do you want from the new President and Reconciliation Government?
I say to Hadi that you become a president and you are one of Abyan people. I think you will never succeed while the province in which you was born still in controlled by al-Qaeda. You should resign from GPC and be chairman of all parties. You should fend al-Qaeda off with your military experience which we used know you had from Abyan, otherwise you will not succeed.

Some reports say that the armed Southern Movement had received support from Iran to cause chaos in Yemen, is that true?
In fact, the Southern Movement does not agree on what is happening between Ali Salem al-Beedh and Iran. We, in the Southern Movement, interacted with the revolution and supported it, and when things developed and the Gulf initiative came as well as the elections, we were the moderate trend, in the sense that we agreed on the political solution to southern issue under the unified Yemen in the framework of a unified federal system.

We have supported the elections as we have supported the Gulf Initiative as well. We highly appreciate the relations of eth Gulf countries with Yemen and we would like to improve these relations as long as they stand by Yemen. We are not satisfied that Ali Salem al-Beedh establishes relations with Iran in order to defame the excellent stance of the Gulf countries that support Yemen. as a Secretariat General of the Southern Movement, I have stated before that we do not agree that Ali Salem al-Beedh establishes relations with Iran because our interests are with Yemeni. There is an apparent financial and media support to Aden Online Satellite Channel, blocking rods, armed violence and preventing the people from participating in the elections and all this we have never seen within the Southern Movement, and we consider it as a part of Iranian support flows to south of Yemen.

Regarding the Southern issue, there is an intention by ambassadors of the countries supporting the Gulf Initiative to hold a national dialogue to solve the southern issue, do you have any idea about these efforts?
As people of the south, Ali Abdullah Saleh had worked along the past 20 years to scatter us that we were not able to meet together. We wanted to hold an internal meeting for the people of the south, and as you have intervened in our internal affairs you should have supported us to hold this meeting, but unfortunately you did not.

Do you have any information about efforts of the ambassadors, did they contact with you, and what was your position?
We are with a fair and just solution to Southern issue in the National Dialogue Conference. We have held a meeting with the EU Ambassador, and the ambassadors of Germany, Britain and France to discuss these issues. We held another meeting with the French Ambassador in last January and told them that the Southern Movement consists of two factions. The first faction led by Brigadier Abdullah al-Nakhbi and supported by Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas, Mohammed Ali Ahmed, Saleh Obaid Ahmed and Ali Nasser Mohammed, from the abroad opposition. This is the factions that supported the revolution, seeks a fair solution for the Southern issue in the National Dialogue Conference and interacted with the elections. The second faction is led by Ali Salem al-Beedh and Taj Organization, based in London, and this faction is still demanding the restoration of the southern state. We stress the importance of holding a southern national dialogue with their help, and its outcomes and decisions should be implemented within the legitimacy of the Gulf Initiative. Such decisions should also be proved by the President, Parliament and the National Reconciliation Government.

How do you consider the presence of international parties in the National Dialogue to resolve the southern issue? Would that help to resolve the issue? Like the British Baroness who visited Aden during the elections? Did she have a positive role?
The Baroness’s mission was clear which was to monitor the elections, and I have called her during the elections and congratulated her for the excellent success. As supervisors on the implementation of the Gulf Initiative, the EU and our brothers in the GCC would attend the conference and we do not mind that they monitor and supervise the conference, and furthermore they are demanded to approximate the points of views in resolving the Southern issue in the conference.

Our brothers in the north should share the same feelings of their brothers in the south. We are facing challenges and are accused of the abandonment of our past principles. If they want the conference to be successful, I suggest that before holding the National Conference, the National Council of the Revolution and the revolution forces should welcome the idea of our southern brothers who held their first conference in Cairo in last May and their second conference in last November, and they should welcome as well the repeated statements of the general Secretariat of the Southern Movement that we would resolve the Southern issue in the National Dialogue Conference, on the federal bases, and certainly it is up to the conference to consider this decision. We are totally convinced that there will be progress and advancement only under the unity but not as it was in the term of Saleh; a unity based on justice and equality. We all should move towards construction.

What message do you want to convey to revolution youths at change squares? Is it safe to say that the revolution had triumphed?
We consider ourselves as an integral part of the Revolution Youth and an active faction in the Peaceful Revolution, through organizing southern movement followers in southern squares side by side with our brothers in Taiz, Sana’a and Bayda. Therefore, I advice our revolutionary brothers that we continue the activities of Peaceful Revolution, while we also should have serious stances against remnants of the regime including the corrupted in the joints of the state. We should not stop. We have to know the points of danger threatening the revolution represented by the existence of Saleh, his sons Ahmed and Khaled, his nephew Yahya, the Political Security and Mahdi Maqualeh. As revolutionaries, we should raise the slogan of holding those people accountable, who did not respect the immunity given to them.

The remnants of the regime and al Qaeda are not beyond placing the hostage soldiers where they know the drones are going to strike, just to generate hostility toward the US and a longing for Ali Saleh. Yahya Saleh, in additional to being the head of several tourist boards, civil society organizations, and the Central Security forces and counter-terror unit, also has controlling interest in al MAZ corp, a huge corporation that deals in part with cotton and there’s questions as to whether al Maz has legal title to the cotton industry or just took it.

اقرأ المزيد من Aden tomorrow | News & Reports | URGENT: war planes bombed the vicinity of an abandoned warehouse includes prisoners from the Yemeni army Bdjaar

Mounted minutes before the planes now believed to be the work of Yemen bombing targeted the vicinity of an abandoned warehouse for cotton holding company which groups dozens of armed soldiers, the Yemeni army, “as prisoners.”

The reporter said “Aden tomorrow,” said city of Jaar aircraft carried out bombing of targeted neighborhoods surrounding the “Almaz company for cotton,” which is located beneath Mount Khanfar the city, adding that huge explosions rocked the company without being available to the moment information on casualties.

And detain armed groups within the company’s hangars one of dozens of soldiers and had threatened to kill them in case the authorities to respond unless the Yemeni government and release a number of its leaders detained in the prisons of the Yemeni government.

Related: Two suicide bombers prematurely detonate in Abyan, 20 & 21 years old, I’m sorry they got sucked in and brainwashed into being pawns in somebody else’s brutal game. Not all al Qaeda in Yemen are mercenaries paid by the National Security or rely on the symbiotic support from the intelligence and security like al Wahishi. Some are mercenaries as well as ideologues and some are just fanatics, but maybe the youngest ones can be pulled back with social support somehow before it is too late for them and Yemen alSahwa (ar)

Nationwide measles campaign launched in Yemen

SANA’A, March 10 (Saba) – The Government of Yemen in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, USAID, ICRC and other partners Saturday launched a nationwide measles campaign in Sana’a, targeting all children under the age of ten – an estimated eight million.

This campaign comes in the wake of an outbreak of the disease in the past few months, with over 3600 reported cases and 126 children under the age of five confirmed dead.

This situation is unacceptable,” says UNICEF Representative Geert Cappelaere. “Measles is a preventable disease and Yemen was close to being declared measles free in 2010 with zero deaths.”

The disease is spreading fast, reaching highly populated areas as well as areas with high levels of acute malnutrition. There is deep concern that many more deaths might occur, particularly among children, which makes today’s campaign even more urgent.

“Measles is a big killer of children” says WHO Representative Dr. Ghulam Popal. “Measles can be easily prevented by vaccination. The high rate of malnutrition and diarrhea among children would increase the fatality of measles. Therefore, it’s very important to implement the national campaign to prevent thousands of deaths among children.”

As a direct result of the 2011 conflict, immunization rates dropped dramatically, by up to 60% in some areas. This decrease in coverage risks exposing children to easily preventable diseases such as poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) and measles.

The US$9 million campaign (costing an estimatedUS$1.10 per child) will be conducted in phases with phase I planned for 10-15 March, targeting 1.5 million children in regions with the highest reported incidence. These are the conflict affected governorates of Abyan, Al-Baidha, Aden, Dhamar, Lahj, Shabwa and Saada. Phase 2, which will cover the rest of the country, will be launched at the end of March.

The following article I wrote in 2006 about a chickenpox outbreak in a rural village shows the devastating impact of that preventable diseases have in Yemen and some of the challenges that will be faced in the vaccination campaign:

A Village in Yemen: A Day in the Life of a Failing State

Jane Novak, Worldpress.org contributing editor, June 9, 2006

An outbreak of chickenpox in Yemen goes a long way in demonstrating the challenges of daily life for Yemeni citizens. The incident is also a snapshot of the factors that may lead Yemen toward state failure.

Barhan is a typical village in Yemen where most villages have no electricity, no sewage system, and no clean water. Nationally, one in 10 kids dies by age five; contaminated water contributes to half their deaths. Of the millions of kids not in school, the highest percentage is among rural girls.

Barhan has reported over 90 cases of chickenpox, including a number of severe cases. Generally, infants, adolescents, and adults are at higher risk to develop complications from chicken pox including pneumonia and encephalitis. If a pregnant woman contracts chickenpox, the fetus is at risk for birth defects. The highly contagious disease has spread to all households in Barhan, which has no doctor, and the village of 1,200 people is at risk of developing 85 percent infection. The village’s only road is under blockade by a neighboring village.

The Yemen Times, which recently won an International Press Institute Award for courageous reporting in an extremely hostile press environment, interviewed a member of the Health Ministry. The source did not want to be identified:

“We sent a message to the Epidemic Monitoring Department’s director general, which told us it’s a disease not subject to Health Ministry monitoring and that it’s not dangerous. We were told to contact Director General Dr. Abdulhakim Al-Kuhlani, who refused to talk to us, giving certain excuses.”

Barhan village has no doctor, no nurse, no midwife, and no hospital. Medical practitioners are scarce in the Yemeni countryside where 70 percent of the population resides. There is one doctor for every 600 people in the capital Sana’a, one doctor for every 12,000 people in Dhamar governorate, and one doctor for 90,000 people in Otma province. Yemen allocates just 1.3 percent of GDP to healthcare and over 7 percent to military spending. (The military and security forces are largely headed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s relatives and tribesmen.)

In addition to low funding levels, medical care is hampered by bureaucratic corruption and inefficiency. By failing to distribute medicines in 2005, the Medicine Fund allowed 60 million Yemeni rials in medicine to expire on its shelves. Smuggling accounts for about 40 percent of medicines in circulation. Even when legitimate medicine is available, it is hard to afford for most Yemenis when nearly half the country lives on less than two dollars a day and many more live close to this level.

In response to the outbreak in Barhan, the Ministry of Health sent a doctor to the village for one day and released a statement that the outbreak was contained. The villagers were promised medicine and doctors. They are still waiting as the virus spreads.

The only road from Barhan is under blockade by a hostile neighboring village. Tribalism is growing in Yemen and the blockade arose as revenge. The freedom to travel is restricted for a fair portion of rural citizens due to tribal hostilities that often erupt in shootouts and deaths. One Barhan resident said, “We are living two tragedies: one involves the blockade and the other involves the epidemic.” Living in fear of an attack by the neighboring village, residents are unable to transport their sick relatives to a hospital. Barhan is only 40 kilometers west of the nation’s capital city of Sana’a.

Barhan has received no help in securing the road from the military or security forces, recipients of about 40 percent of Yemen’s budget. Tribal disputes, arising in the absence of an impartial judiciary, are normally left to fester by the regime. The Yemeni government sometimes gets involved by taking hostages in order to pressure one of the parties involved. A 2004 parliamentary report noted scores of persons listed on prison documents as “hostages.” This regime policy can backfire: several times last year tribesmen kidnapped foreigners to pressure the regime to release or bring to trial detained relatives, including one 12 year old.

One distraught parent in Barhan told The Yemen Times, “We’ve sought the help of the Health Ministry, the capital secretariat, the local council and all concerned parties, but they’ve done nothing to protect our children from this horrific disease.”

Local councils set up in 2001 were supposed to enhance democratic participation in Yemen, but somebody forgot to tell the councils and the regime, because the local councils do not work — literally. The local councils have little training, structure, authority or coordination with central authorities. Executive council meetings are poorly attended. A Barhan resident explained:

“They’ve done nothing ever since we elected them to be our representatives, to adopt our concerns and issues and solve them in coordination with Sana’a authorities. They’ve disappointed us.”

Other “democratic” institutions in Yemen are equally disappointing. Parliament is dominated by the General People’s Congress Party (G.P.C.), which is headed by President Saleh. Parliament does little beyond shuffle oil revenue in mysterious ways. M.P.’s who try to advance the interests of the public are called traitors. The minority opposition parties hotly criticize the authoritarianism of the regime but are undemocratic in structure and practice themselves. There is an election coming in September for both the presidency and the local councils. With voter registration processes in the hands of G.P.C. loyalists, so far there is about a million questionable voter registrations, according to one opposition tally about 11 percent of the rolls. Yemen is on the road to becoming a one party state, and an ineffectual one at that.

In a region filled with dictatorships, the one in Yemen is particularly incompetent and distinctly corrupt with a good portion of public funds stolen, borrowed, embezzled, paid as bribes, or otherwise misappropriated. The chicken pox vaccine is 95 percent effective in preventing a moderate or severe case of chicken pox. Other remedies are available for people who have already been exposed, including infants, to reduce the risk of a severe case. Yet at the top of Yemen’s shopping list are helicopters, Mig-29 fighter planes, and armored personnel carriers.

In the run up to the election, President Saleh has taken a road trip around the nation, laying cornerstones and making promises. In the little village of Barhan, 1,200 people remain blockaded with no doctor and a rampant infectious disease. They have no government. There are 129,229 villages and districts in the Yemeni countryside. The lack of basic services, security, and democratic institutions affects them all.

Jane Novak is an American journalist and political analyst.

Mersad: Observatory – rebounds: Protest this morning outside the house of the President Hadi Street, sixty in the capital Sanaa, thousands of officers described the soldiers of the north-west and the First Armored Division, demanding dismissal and the trial of General Almends Mohsen al-Ahmar commander of the First Armored Division – revolutionary youth popular- as a result of crimes committed against them and the rights of the people of Yemen.

Addressing the participants in the march of His Excellency President quickly redress, advertisers for organizing themselves in peaceful marches to put their grievances and their rights in the hands of President of the Republic after the impatient and touched, by what he has Ali Mohsen Saleh, the Red commander of the North-West leader the First Armored Division of the heinous crimes against armed forces and the people and committed in their right as part of the military leader.

The participants carried banners condemning and denouncing the acts and crimes committed by the Mohsen al-Ahmar, including: “In order to maintain the blood and the security and stability of the country demand Bmhakh dissident Ali Muhsin and his fellow dissidents,” and “Forgive and Trie assassin, afraid of the land to an improved red”, and “younger generations reject the division commander and al-Qaeda, “and” We demand to bring the militias, reform and the rule of the band “, and” for the home we will make our bodies as a weapon, and our hearts, safes, and our words shots, “and” dismissal of Ali Mohsen, a national duty and trial of a religious duty, “and” Why is not said and tried commander band “, and” We want to try an improved “, and” dissident leader bouncing point. ”

The participants demanded the military camps quickly evacuate the First Armored Division of the University of extremists and militia reform faith and al-Qaeda. At the same time stressing the need for trial on incest Mohsen al-Ahmar by crimes committed by them.

They also demanded too quickly the investigation of the killing of many of their colleagues from the back shot by mercenaries who Dsuhm dissident leaders in youth groups in the Sa’ada war to liquidate the soldiers and officers from certain areas.

He also called on the participants in the demonstration to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camps set up by Alamishqon inside their camps and the speed of the release of innocent people, as well as the immediate release of detainees from the First Armored Division employees of the North West region and the First Armored Division.

Stressing the need to hold accountable dissidents on the fate of the billions that are stolen from the people as food for thousands of soldiers registered fictitious names.

They also demanded accountability lurking and looters of their rights and the rights of their colleagues who caused the martyrs killed in the wars in Sa’ada who Adarōha to disturb the security and sale of weapons of the army. ”

March/10/12

Related: Yes they are apparently all over it. US drones strikes kill 25 in Yemen overnight:

US drones raided several hideouts of the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda wing in the southeast restive province of Al-Baydha on Friday night. At least 25 AQAP militants were killed, including senior figures, with several other militants being wounded in an air strike conducted by the United States forces according to local website news…Moreover recent news that al-Shaba’a, the Ethiopian al-Qaeda wing had sent hundreds of Jihadists over to Abyan to join in Ansar al-Sharia, has been the cause of great concerns for both the government and the civilian population, as they feel their land could become the ground of a mighty war.

Ethiopians? al Shaba’a? 1) Maybe these are the nine mystery ships that everyone is talking about arriving before last Sunday’s attack on the military base in Abyan that killed nearly 200 Yemeni soldiers and 2) How weak is AQAP that they need to import fighters?

There’s also reports of drone strikes in Jaar, Abyan that destroyed the military equipment AQAP captured from the army last week-end. Update: The al Baydah airstrikes hit the AQAP training camp and targeted local al-Qaeda leader Abdulwahhab al-Homaiqani, the BBC reports. Its always good when there are no immediate reports of civilian casualties, I would have heard by now.

The Yemeni soldiers captured (who weren’t beheaded or otherwise mutilated) were paraded around Jaar, forced to train the terrorists on how to operate the tanks, and now are threatened with execution if the govt doesn’t release AQ prisoners.

The YO article regarding reports of an impending attack follows: Yemen Observer:

Yemen based al-Qaeda plans strikes on Sana’a and Mukala Reliable sources have said that al-Qaeda has been preparing for its largest operations yet in the capital city of Sana’a, operations aimed at strategic sites including military and security installments and embassies.

Sources said that al-Qaeda cells in the areas of Zindan and Arhab have trained for operations involving the storming of fortified sites, attacking fixed and mobile targets while aboard vehicles and motorbikes, and that al-Qaeda militants have entered Sana’a in preparation for carrying out their attacks in the coming few days.

The sources expect that al-Qaeda’s potential targets include the Airbase in Sana’a, the Interior Ministry, Republican Guard units and a number of embassies, including the American embassy.

The sources confirmed information regarding intentions by al-Qaeda to attack Mukala to divert attention its plans in Sana’a.

Security sources said that over 400 al-Qaeda militants are currently in Shabwa’s Azan Directorate, with three al-Qaeda leaders in charge (Ibrahim al-Bana, an Egyptian, Qasem al-Rimi and Shaker Hamel) of plans to attack vital installations, security sites, and important government facilities as part of a plan to expand their so-called Azan Islamic state to Mukala.

This coincides with the arrival of militants from the Somali al-Shabab al-Muslim to Yemen to support local al-Qaeda elements. Citizens in the coastal Shagra town said that they saw about 300 armed African men traveling from Azan to Zinjubar.

On its website, the Interior Ministry emphasized the government’s ability “to confront such adventurous terrorist plans, which show the true confusion of al-Qaeda, that knows that their end is eminent in Yemen in light of tendency of the restructure of the army on national basis and the comprehensive national dialogue in compatibility with the scheduled provisions of the operational mechanisms of the GCC initiative.”

In preparation for the attacks on Mukala, the Interior Ministry ordered their leadership in Hadramout and Shabwa to step up security precautions at all checkpoints leading to the two governorates and to stay prepared to face any terrorist actions.

Field sources in Abyan, in southern Yemen, said that the 111th Brigade in Lawder shelled heavy artillery trucks suspected of carrying weapons to al-Qaeda when they passed Akad area, to the east of Lawder.

A source said added that one of the trucks was hit but that they didn’t learn the extent of the damage caused, as they were in an area under al-Qaeda control. The source said that information indicated the trucks were carrying weapons to al-Qaeda fighters in Hadramout.

The interior Ministry said it had received information that armed al-Qaeda fighters were arriving in Yemen and that the ministry had taken measures to prevent them from entering Yemeni territories.

The cabinet held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to discuss the challenges posed by terrorist forces in certain governorates, and especially the savage attack in Abyan which killed over 120 soldiers and officers from army and security forces.

The Cabinet overlooked a report that included details of the incidence from the Defense Minister, as well as details of other terrorist activities carried out by al-Qaeda in Hadramout, al-Baidha, Shabwa and Aden.

The cabinet also stressed the need for the unification of security and military efforts, and elaborated on visions and plans “to face and defeat the evil forces to restore security and public tranquility.”

The Cabinet urged the Military Committee to accelerate their practical procedures to restructure the armed and security forces.

The Council of Ministers has ordered governors and military and security officials to live up to their commitments, and stressed that the government would hold accountable and take measures against those who fail to meet their responsibilities.

The Cabinet approved the formation of a ministerial committee consisting of the Ministers of Defense, the Interior, Local Administration, Justice and the Civil Services, to take charge of adopting all necessary measures to achieve stability and security and to investigate security defects, and to investigate events in Abyan. The committee has been directed to submit immediate reports to the cabinet so that it may take measures to deal with the situation.

The Cabinet said the government would not hesitate to take all measures to deter and eradicate terrorism and extremism of all sorts and forms. “We will provide all support to the military and security forces to carry out their duties, so as to enhance security and stability and eliminate terrorism,” read a statement issued by the cabinet on Wednesday.

It asked clerics, imams, and intellectuals to inform the public of Islamic rules that refute extremism and terror and prohibit the killing of innocent people under the pretence of serving Islam and of implementing Islamic rules, as is claimed by terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, local sources in Abyan said on Monday that al-Qaeda is forcing detained soldiers to train its militants on the use of modern tank, artillery units and other heavy weapons that it seized after attacking troop positions last Sunday in south Yemen.

About 60 soldiers were detained and taken to the Taliban-style, al-Qaeda-declared Islamic Emirate of Ja’ar in the southern province of Abyan on Sunday morning. More than 110 soldiers were killed and more than 150 other injured when al-Qaeda operatives attacked camps and positions in Dawfas area, near Zinjubar, the capital of Abyan.
About 20 al-Qaeda fighters were killed and dozens were injured, according to sources in Ja’ar.

Security sources have revealed that among those killed was Mohammed al-Haniq, the emir of al-Qaeda in the Arhab district.

“On Monday in Ja’ar, detained soldiers from the Dawfas battles were witnessed training al- Qaeda fighters on the use of looted tanks and artillery units under gun point,” said local sources.

Although American and Yemeni fighters jets tried to bomb the seized heavy weaponry on Sunday, they failed to destroy everything, said sources.

Newly-elected president Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi vowed to crush all terrorist hideouts in Abyan and other places.

“The confrontation will continue with all force until the last terrorist is killed,” said President Hadi in a meeting on Monday with American, British, and Saudi officials and diplomats.

The country’s Supreme Military Committee also held a meeting with 10 Arab and Foreign ambassadors who assisted Yemenis in extracting themselves from their political crisis to discuss further serious confrontations with al-Qaeda.

In a statement released to media outlets on Monday, the families of dead and injured soldiers demanded that newly-elected President Hadi should strike with an iron fist those responsible for the massacre in Dawfas.

The families demanded that the Minister of Defense and Interior Minister resign and that an investigation committee be formed.

Meanwhile, six al-Qaeda suspects in possession of a car bomb were arrested early Monday morning in Sanaa, according to security authorities. Earlier in the week, another car bomb was discovered and confiscated. Authorities had been looking for three car bombs made in the Arhab area, about 30 km north of the capital. Arhab is the home district of extremist cleric Abdul Majid al-Zandani, who has been accused by the United States and the United Nations of being a global terrorist.

Last Wednesday, February, 29, al-Qaeda threatened to attack places outside the battlefield if government troops failed to withdraw from the vicinity of Zinjubar within ten days.

“We, Ansar al-Shariah in the State of Abyan, give the government an ultimatum of 10 days to withdraw all troops from around Zinjubar, and to compensate the displaced persons,” said Abu Hamzah Jalal Beledi, emir of Ansar al-Shariah in the State of Abyan, in a statement sent via SMS by one of his assistants, who called himself Abu al-Waleed.

“If the troops are not withdrawn, we will attack outside the battle field, and we might have to implement the ‘flooding river’ plan,” said the leader of al-Qaeda in Zinjubar.

The al-Qaeda threat came only two days after local military command issued an ultimatum of one week for Al-Qaeda operatives to leave the city of Zinjubar, with the threat that troops would storm the city if this did not happen.

Because the YO, YT, News Yemen and many others have lost their archives over the years, I usually copy the whole text of important articles.