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Yemen

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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a nation located in West Asia.

Yemen - Location Map (2013) - YEM - UNOCHA
Yemen - Location Map (2013) - YEM - UNOCHA

It occupies a strategic position on the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The country shares land borders with Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the northeast.

Yemen (orthographic projection)2
Yemen (orthographic projection)2

To the south, Yemen meets the Gulf of Aden. The Red Sea lies to its west. It also shares maritime borders with several nations across the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Somaliland, and Somalia. The nation includes the Socotra Archipelago. Covering approximately 455,503 square kilometres, it is the second largest country on the Arabian Peninsula by area. However, it is the largest by population, with an estimated 34.7 million people. Most residents are Arab Muslims.

Because of its unique geography, Yemen has served as a crossroads for many civilizations for over 7,000 years. This location made it a vital hub for international trade. One of the earliest major powers was the Sabaean Kingdom, which existed from 1000 BC to 275 AD. The Sabaeans were known for their advanced engineering. They constructed the Great Dam of Marib around 940 BC to manage seasonal flash floods.

Jemen1988-022 hg
Jemen1988-022 hg

Their leaders often held the title of Mukarrib, meaning a unifier or priest-king. These rulers worked to bring various tribes together under one authority. After the Sabaeans, the Himyarite Kingdom rose to power. This kingdom spanned much of the territory seen in Yemen today. The Himyarites were heavily influenced by Judaism before Christianity arrived in the fourth century. By the seventh century, Islam spread rapidly throughout the region.

Religious and political shifts shaped the landscape of ancient Yemen. Following the arrival of Islam, Yemen became a significant center for Islamic learning. Yemeni troops also played a major role in early Islamic conquests. For many centuries, the region was famous for its agricultural production. It was a primary producer of coffee, which was exported globally through the port of Mocha.

Mocha1692
Mocha1692

Various dynasties rose and fell between the 9th and 16th centuries. During the 19th century, the territory was divided by two major global powers. The Ottoman Empire and the British Empire controlled different parts of the land. This division lasted until the mid-20th century when independence movements began to reshape the nation.

Modern Yemeni history is marked by a period of division and eventual unification. After World War I, the Kingdom of Yemen was established. In 1962, a civil war led to the creation of the Yemen Arab Republic, also known as North Yemen. Later, in 1967, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, or South Yemen, gained independence from the British Aden Protectorate.

Divided Yemen
Divided Yemen

South Yemen became the first and only communist state in the Arab world. These two separate states finally united in 1990 to form the modern Republic of Yemen. Ali Abdullah Saleh served as the first president of this unified nation. He remained in power until his resignation in 2012 following the Arab Spring protests.

Since 2011, Yemen has faced a deep and ongoing political crisis. Street protests began due to issues like poverty, unemployment, and corruption. These tensions eventually escalated into a full-scale civil war in 2015.

Yemeni Civil War
Yemeni Civil War

Multiple groups are currently fighting for control of the government. These include the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council and the Houthi movement's Supreme Political Council. This conflict has expanded to involve various foreign powers. The fighting has resulted in a severe and widespread humanitarian crisis across the country.

Today, Yemen faces extreme economic and social challenges. It is one of the least developed and poorest countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The human impact of the conflict is very high. In 2019, the United Nations reported that roughly 24 million people needed humanitarian aid. This number represents nearly 75% of the total population.

019 Rally (39025071401)
019 Rally (39025071401)

Furthermore, Yemen has faced significant struggles regarding food security. In 2020, it was ranked second-worst on the Global Hunger Index. The nation also ranks highly on the Fragile States Index and the Global Peace Index, which measures levels of violence and instability.

Environmental factors also threaten the stability of the nation. Yemen is among the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. It is also one of the least prepared to manage the resulting effects. The country suffers from extreme water stress, making it difficult to sustain its population.

Water Stress, Top Countries (2020)
Water Stress, Top Countries (2020)

This scarcity of water is a major obstacle to sustainable development. As the climate changes, the difficulty of finding water and growing food continues to grow. These environmental pressures combine with political and economic struggles to create a very complex situation for the people living in Yemen.

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🖼️ Images & Media (40)
United States Navy Band - United Republic.ogg
File:Yemen (orthographic projection)2.svg
Yemen (orthographic projection)2.svg
File:Yemen - Location Map (2013) - YEM - UNOCHA.svg
Yemen - Location Map (2013) - YEM - UNOCHA.svg
File:Jemen1988-022 hg.jpg
Jemen1988-022 hg.jpg
File:Dhamar Ali Yahbur (bust).jpg
Dhamar Ali Yahbur (bust).jpg
File:South Arabian - Stele with a Female Bust - Walters 2173.jpg
South Arabian - Stele with a Female Bust...
File:British Museum Yemen 04.jpg
British Museum Yemen 04.jpg
File:Great Mosque of Sana'a1.jpg
Great Mosque of Sana'a1.jpg
File:Taiz (15095300476) (cropped).jpg
Taiz (15095300476) (cropped).jpg
File:Slaves Zadib Yemen 13th century BNF Paris.jpg
Slaves Zadib Yemen 13th century BNF Paris.jpg
File:Assault on Aden.jpg
Assault on Aden.jpg
File:Jemen1988-153 hg.jpg
Jemen1988-153 hg.jpg

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