On 7 August 2012, a suicide bombing at a funeral in Abyan province killed 45 people and injuried man

It contains updated information under Safety and Security: Terrorism (list of recent attacks on Westerners updated). We continue to advise against all travel to Yemen and strongly urge all Australians in Yemen to depart. There is a very high risk of terrorist attack and kidnapping in Yemen, including in Sanaa.
Terrorists may be planning suicide attacks against Yemeni and foreign interests, including foreign officials, embassies, diplomatic premises and vehicles, and hotels. These locations have been attacked in the past and are very likely to be attacked in the future.
Terrorists may also be planning attacks on oil infrastructure in Yemen. Several attacks against oil interests and kidnappings travel packing advice of foreign oil workers have been reported. Further such incidents could occur in any part of Yemen.
Yemeni Government interests are routinely targeted for attack by terrorists. Australians in Yemen should exercise extreme caution near facilities and installations travel packing advice belonging to the Yemeni authorities, including deployments of security forces and ministries
travel packing advice There is a very high risk of kidnapping throughout Yemen, including in the capital Sana a. A number of foreigners were kidnapped in Sana a in 2012. Foreigners, including Australians, have been targeted in the past. Some hostages have been killed.
Piracy occurs against all forms of shipping in and around Yemen's waters and the Gulf of Aden. We strongly advise Australians to maintain a high level of vigilance and to exercise travel packing advice extreme caution travel packing advice when anywhere near these waters. See our advice to Australians travelling travel packing advice by sea for further information.
We advise against all travel to Yemen. travel packing advice Visas are no longer granted on arrival in Yemen. Visa conditions change without notice. Contact the nearest Embassy of Yemen for the most up-to-date information.
Women in Yemen can be subjected to strict family controls and may be prevented from leaving the country. A Yemeni husband may legally prevent his wife from leaving the country, regardless of her nationality.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Be aware of the ongoing high threat security environment: Ask yourself whether, given your own personal circumstances, you're comfortable travelling to Yemen knowing that there is a very high threat from terrorism and you may be caught up in a terrorist attack. Ask yourself whether travel could be deferred or an alternative destination chosen. If, having considered these issues, travel packing advice you do decide to travel to Yemen, you should exercise extreme caution, avoid, where possible, all locations known to be frequented by foreigners and maintain a low profile at all times. You should seek advice from professional security consultants on your safety and security arrangements.
Australians intending to travel to Yemen should travel packing advice be aware that violent anti-Western terrorists are based in many parts of the country and have demonstrated a capacity travel packing advice to launch attacks in all parts of Yemen. These groups have also demonstrated their continuing intent to cause mass civilian casualties, particularly among Westerners. Yemen-based terrorists are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methodology, scale of operations and ambition to maximise harm to Westerners. These groups have also claimed travel packing advice responsibility for a number travel packing advice of terrorist travel packing advice plots outside of Yemen in which their sole objective was to inflict civilian casualties. The presence of these groups in Yemen poses a very high threat to the safety travel packing advice and security of Australians.
Australians in Yemen should be aware that any identifiable Western interest could be targeted for attack. Further terrorist attacks are highly likely and could occur at any time anywhere in Yemen with little or no warning. In this highly dangerous and unpredictable environment, Australians should adopt strict security travel packing advice procedures travel packing advice and carefully travel packing advice consider the necessity of all travel against the very high risk of terrorist attack. Australians of all backgrounds should consider themselves to be a potential target for attack, regardless of location or length of stay in Yemen, occupation or ethnic or religious background. You should remain vigilant at all times and ensure that you vary your routines to ensure patterns in behaviour and movement do not become apparent to observers.
travel packing advice On 7 August 2012, a suicide bombing at a funeral in Abyan province killed 45 people and injuried many more. On 17 July 2012, a police academy in Sana a was bombed, killing at least 26 people. On 21 May 2012, a suicide attack against Yemeni Government security forces in Sana a reportedly killed around 100 people.
Statements by Yemeni-based terrorists indicate a continuing intent to attack Westerners and Western targets. An increase in violent incidents over the past year has demonstrated travel packing advice the ongoing very high threat of terrorist attack in all parts of Yemen, including in Sana a.
Recent terrorist attacks involving Western travel packing advice interests: A number of attacks against Westerners and Western interests have occurred in Yemen in recent years. Foreign tourists are particularly vulnerable to terrorism in Yemen. Attacks against tourists have increased in urban and provincial areas and are expected to continue to do so, including in Sana a and Hadramaut provinces where a number of tourist travel packing advice attractions are located.
On 15 March 2009, four foreign tourists were killed by a suicide bomber in Shibam, southern Hadramaut, and a suicide bomber targeted a convoy carrying foreigners close to Sana'a International Airport.
On 17 September 2008, an attack on the US Embassy in Sana'a killed 17 people. The group claiming responsibility for the attack has also threatened to target British, Saudi and Emirati missions travel packing advice in Sana a.
Possible terrorist targets: Terrorists may be planning suicide attacks against Yemeni and foreign interests, including foreign officials, embassies, diplomatic premises and vehicles, and hotels. Terrorists may also be planning attacks on oil infrastructure in Yemen. Several attacks against oil interests and kidnappings of foreign oil workers were reported in 2010. Further such incidents could occur in any part of Yemen.
In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided. Targets include areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, fast food and retail franchises, schools, places of worship, embassies and diplomatic interests, foreign residential compounds, international organisations, outdoor recreation travel packing advice events, public and private transport, including convoys; and Yemeni government interests, security, travel packing advice police and military infrastructure and personnel, oil industry facilities, tourist areas and attractions, markets and shopping centres. . No location in Yemen should be considered immune from violence.
Yemeni Government interests: Yemeni Government interests are routinely targeted for attack by terrorists. Australians in Yemen should exercise extreme caution near facilities and installations belonging travel packing advice to the Yemeni authorities, including deployments of security forces.
travel packing advice Threats to Western interests exist across the Arabian Peninsula: Terrorists have continued to issue statements pledging to launch further attacks against all Westerners in the Arabian Peninsula. In past statements, these terrorists have called for attacks in the Gulf region travel packing advice against Western interests, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests. The terrorist group responsible for these statements is believed to have a significant presence in Yemen.
The situation in Yemen remains volatile with continuing unrest and violent travel packing advice clashes reported, particularly in Sana a. Since January 2011 there has been heavy fighting involving security forces, anti-government protestors and terrorist groups across Yemen. The fighting has resulted in numerous travel packing advice casualties travel packing advice and deaths. Further violence is likely.
If, despite our strong advice that you depart, you decide to remain in Yemen, you should avoid all protests and demonstrations travel packing advice and remain indoors wherever possible. You should also stay in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra or the Australian Embassy in Riyadh (see below under Where to Get Help for details). You should continue to avoid locations known to be frequented by foreigners.
Australians who remain in Yemen should ensure they have appropriate personal security measures in place. Australians in Yemen should also prepare a contingency plan to enable departure from Yemen in the event of a sudden further deterioration travel packing advice in the security environment. travel packing advice Protests and demonstrations may also affect your ability to travel by road. As a precautionary measure, you should ensure you have adequate supplies of water, food, fuel, cash and medications and that your documentation remains up to date. You are responsible for ensuring that your contingency plan is regularly reviewed and is appropriate for your personal circumstances.
Australians remaining in Yemen should be aware that, in the event of a further deterioration, our capacity to assist in evacuations will be severely constrained. Because Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Yemen, we ordinarily rely upon officials from other countries to assist Australians in distress. Due to the deterioration travel packing advice in the security environment, many embassies travel packing advice in Yemen are operating with reduced staff. In the event of any further increase travel packing advice in civil disorder or breakdown in law and order, the capacity of the Australian Government to arrange for your evacuation from Yemen will be greatly constrained. travel packing advice Due to lack of infrastructure, geographic constraints and the very high risk of terrorist attack in Yemen, options for evacuation from Yemen are extremely limited. These factors underpin our very strong advi