On February 11, 2015, due to the deteriorating security situation in Sana’a, the Department of State suspended embassy operations and U.S. Embassy Sana’a American staff were relocated out of the country. The level of instability and ongoing threats in Yemen remain extremely concerning. There are no plans for a U.S. government-sponsored evacuation of U.S. citizens at this time. We encourage U.S. citizens to monitor the news and seek available departure options from Yemen, via air, land, or sea.
Our Travel Warning for Yemen, which has been in effect for a number of years, warns U.S. citizens of the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. On February 11, when our U.S. Embassy in Sana’a suspended operations, we updated our Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens that, due to the deteriorating security situation in Sana’a, the Department of State suspended embassy operations, U.S. Embassy Sanaa American staff were relocated out of the country, and all consular services, routine and emergency, were suspended until further notice. We urged U.S. citizens to defer travel to Yemen and those U.S. citizens currently living in or visiting Yemen to depart. We encouraged U.S. citizens wishing to depart to do so via commercial means while there were available options as airports could experience unexpected closures with little to no warning.
U.S. citizens who are able to depart Yemen for another country and are in need of emergency assistance may contact a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country. While they do not have an ability to provide departure assistance to U.S. citizens who are in Yemen, they can provide assistance to U.S. citizens by relaying urgent messages with loved-ones, enrolling U.S. citizens in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to provide informational updates by email, and to facilitate consular services to U.S. citizens who arrive in that neighboring country. For U.S. citizen inquiries, you may send an email to YEMENEMERGENCYUSC@state.gov.
