Yemen

Peoples Under Threat Ranking:
#5
0

Communities at risk

Zaydi Shi'a, 'Akhdam', Southerners

Summary

The war in Yemen emerged in the wake of a failed political process aiming to stabilize the country after longtime authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh was ousted in a 2011 popular uprising. Since then, the conflict has developed into the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, with a death toll now exceeding 230,000. A major fear for… Read more »

Peoples Under Threat Data

2021 Data Peoples under Threat value
Self-determination conflicts5
Major armed conflict2
Prior genocide / politicideNo data
Flight of refugees and IDPs0.1410
Legacy of vengeance - group grievance9.4
Rise of factionalized elites10.0
Voice and Accountability-1.767
Political Stability-2.672
Rule of Law-1.777
OECD country risk classification7
TOTAL20.234

The overall measure for each country is based on a basket of 10 indicators. The number in each row is drawn from the source for that particular indicator. The sources of data and calculations used are detailed on the Notes to Table page. 

Background

The war in Yemen emerged in the wake of a failed political process aiming to stabilize the country after longtime authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh was ousted in a 2011 popular uprising. Since then, the conflict has developed into the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, with a death toll now exceeding 230,000. A major fear for civilians is air strikes and missile attacks by all parties to the conflict, including the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government, assisted by a Saudi-led coalition of Arab and Western states. Through 2020–21 the Houthis made significant territorial gains, raising the prospect of a forthcoming shift in the conflict: with a weakened government, international mediators would have less influence and the secessionist Southern Transitional Council would play a bigger role. While its operational capacity has been diminished in recent years and the group’s identity and agenda have become more diffuse, Yemen’s al-Qaeda affiliate continues to clash with rival ISIS fighters as well as Houthi and government forces.