Updated Advice for Foreigners in Yemen

Events continue to unfold in Yemen and safety of foreigners is thinning.

Previous advice posted on LPOY were not to participate in demonstrations and to prepare yourselves for a long stay home.

The President of Yemen has announced the dismissal of the cabinet. This in itself is nothing and I have been informed that the fired government is still there but in a different shape, or in name only - it is now a caretaker government.

However, if you compare the steps of the Yemeni President to those of the deposed Tunisian President Ben Ali, the steps are very similar. First step announces tax cuts and pay rises, second step - announces that he will not run for president in the next elections in two years time. Step three - sack the government.

Many political analysts in Yemen stay that Ali will not go without a big fight, so with that in mind I would like to remind foreigners living in Yemen to prepare well for a long stay home.

If war comes to Yemen, the initial stages will be absolute chaos and killing. It will not be clear who are the munafiqeen and who are on haq. And foreigners will likely find it difficult to navigate through these waters without local support - that is be part of a Yemeni group or tribe for protection. If you have not fostered good relations with locals you should consider leaving Yemen rather than weathering the storm.

Westerners, specifically those who chose to live in Yemen for protection of their religion - Muhajireen for the sake of Allah and choose to stay in Yemen despite serious upheaval and possibility of armed conflict will be labelled by the current authorities as terrorists linked to al-Qaeda and be blamed for the fitnah engulfing the country. These falling regimes find it easy to claim a foreign plot to overturn the government and create chaos for (unknown) gains.

I know at this time these warnings may seem sensational. LPOY does not wish to create fear and panic amongst foreigners wishing to stay in Yemen despite the problems, but to inform you of serious possibilities so to better prepare yourselves.

- Gas is stocks are very low and you may now need to pay very high prices.
- Foreign currency is almost impossible to get hold of now.
- If you are using sabafon, get yourself a sim card from another company incase the sabafon network is shut down by the government. Sabafon is owned by Hameed al-Ahmar who is the President's number 1 opponent.