Passports and visas are required. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended. For more details, travelers can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen, Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, telephone (202) 965-4760; or the Yemen Mission to the U.N., 866 United Nations Plaza, Room 435, New York, N.Y. 10017, telephone (212) 355-1730. Americans who consider studying in Yemen should make this fact clear to a Yemeni consular official in the U.S. and apply for the appropriate visa. Some Americans studying in Yemen without official permission have been deported.

TRIBAL KIDNAPPINGS: Less violent than the kidnappings mentioned in the warning section, but more common, are kidnappings of foreigners by well-armed and independent tribesmen with specific grievances against the Yemeni government. Since 1991 more than 100 such kidnappings have occurred throughout Yemen, both in major cities and rural areas. These kidnappings are normally resolved peacefully, but tribesmen have held some foreigners, including Americans, for extended periods.

AREAS OF INSTABILITY: Travel on roads between cities throughout Yemen can be dangerous. Yemeni security officials advise against casual travel to rural areas. Kidnappings of foreigners have occurred on the Sanaa-Dhamar-Aden road, Yemen?s most heavily traveled highway. Travel is particularly dangerous in the tribal areas north and east of Sanaa and close to the undemarcated border with Saudi Arabia, in Shabwa and Abyan Provinces, or sailing near disputed islands in the Red Sea. If travel through these areas is necessary, the risk to personal security may be reduced if such travel is undertaken by air or with an armed escort provided by a local tour company. Armed carjackings, especially of four-wheel drive vehicles, occur in many parts of the country, including the capital.

Other potential hazards to travelers include land mines and unexploded ordnance left over from the 1994 civil war in areas where fighting took place in the six southern provinces, particularly around Aden.

ROAD SAFETY: In addition to the security considerations noted above, travel by roads in Yemen should be considered risky. The driving habits of Yemeni drivers are poor, and vehicles are often in poor condition. Driving after dark is especially dangerous because many roads are not lit, vehicles frequently do not have lights, and road construction areas may not be clearly marked. During rainy seasons, roads throughout the country may be completely washed out and impassable. Flash floods can strike without warning.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, or economic authority to operate such service between the U.S. and Yemen, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Yemen?s civil aviation authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Yemen?s air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact DOD at 618-229-4801.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: The altitude of Sanaa (7200 feet) and lack of adequate medical facilities can cause problems for some visitors. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

INFORMATION ON CRIME: The most serious problems affecting travelers to Yemen are kidnapping and carjackings (see Warning, Tribal Kidnappings, and Areas of Instability sections.) In addition, travelers have occasionally been victims of petty street crime. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, personal security, and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, A Safe Trip Abroad, and Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa. They are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

EMBASSY LOCATION AND REGISTRATION: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security conditions within Yemen. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa is open for American citizen services between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday, and is located at Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The telephone number is (967)(1) 238-843 through 238-852.