Introduction to Yemen
Yemen, or Republic of Yemen, a country on the Arabian Peninsula in southwestern Asia. It was created in 1990 by the union of Yemen (Sana) and Yemen (Aden). Yemen is bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman on land and by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Arabian Sea. Socotra and a number of smaller islands are part of Yemen.
Facts in brief about YemenCapital: Sanaa.Official language: Arabic.Area: 203,850 mi2. (527,968 km2). Coastline—about 1,020 mi. (1,642 km).Elevation:Highest—12,336 ft. (3,760 m). Lowest—sea level.Population:Current estimate—23,054,000; density, 113 per mi2 (44 per km2); distribution, 74 percent rural, 26 percent urban. 2004 census—19,721,643.Chief products:Agriculture—coffee, fruits, grains, khat, vegetables. Manufacturing—building materials, handicrafts. Mining—petroleum.Flag: Yemen's flag has three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black (top to bottom).Money:Basic unit—Yemeni rial.Physical Geography
Yemen is a country in southwestern Asia, in an area of the world called the Middle East.Yemen occupies part of a rough, arid plateau that rises abruptly from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and slopes downward toward the north and east. Along the coast are narrow lowlands, which include the Tihama in the west. The edge of the plateau is steepest and highest in western Yemen, where elevations on the plateau range generally between 5,000 and 8,000 feet (1,500 and 2,400 m). In some areas peaks rise 10,000 feet (3,000 m) to more than 12,000 feet (3,600 m) above sea levvel. A major topographic feature of eastern Yemen is the Hadhramaut, an inland valley following the Wadi Hadhramaut. In northern Yemen is the southwestern part of the Rub al Khali, or Empty Quarter, which lies mainly in Saudi Arabia. The Rub al Khali is a vast sandy desert and one of the most desolate areas on earth.
The climate of Yemen, except in the western highlands, is hot and extremely dry. Aden, for example, has average temperatures of 75° F. (24° C.) in January and 90° F. (32° C.) in July; its annual rainfall is usually less than 5 inches (130 mm). In the extreme east rain may fall only once every 5 to 10 years. The climate of the western highlands is far more moderate. It is marked by warm, temperate, rainy summers and cool, fairly dry winters with occasional frost and snow.
Economy
Yemen's economy is one of the least developed on earth and in some respects has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. However, since the mid 20th century, much has been done to begin modernizing the economy. Large amounts of foreign aid as well as money sent to family members by Yemenis working abroad have helped Yemen to shift from a barter economy to a money economy and brought substantial economic and social change. Yemen's basic currency unit is the Yemeni riyal.
Agriculture sustains the great majority of the people. Construction of dams and implementation of agricultural development projects have turned the desert areas into productive farmlands. But the southern part of Yemen remains uncultivable owing to scarcity of water. The principal crops are sorghum, wheat, barley, corn, and other grains and many fruits and vegetables. Khat (a leaf which contains a mild stimulant), cotton, and coffee are also important cash crops. Most farming is done on steep, terraced slopes. Ancient water channels called aqueducts carry water to these terraces. Dates and cotton are grown on the Tihamah region. The Yemenis also raise a variety of animals, mostly sheep and goats.
Handicrafts account for many of the personal and household goods produced in Yemen. Other than weaving and dyeing, people also make rope, glassware, harnesses, saddles, and pottery. These goods are sold in the village bazaars (market places). There are an increasing number of modern manufacturing plants, producing such goods as foods and beverages, textiles, building materials, and chemicals. Construction is an emerging industry in the country. The construction of new factories, hotels, offices, schools, and roads fall in this category. Much foreign aid has been given to Yemen for industrialization.
Commercial fishing has long been an important industry in southern Yemen and is becoming increasingly important in northern Yemen. The catch consists chiefly of mackerel and tuna.
Except for petroleum and salt, mineral resources are few. Petroleum was discovered in substantial amounts in the Marib area in 1984; other discoveries followed. Petroleum is an important export. Yemen’s economy is dependent on Aden’s oil refinery and port. Oil chiefly from the Gulf countries is processed in the refinery. The port is used for refueling, repairs, and transferring cargoes by ships of various nations. Salt, mined in large quantities near Salif, is also an important export.
Camels, donkeys, and horses are chiefly used by people in Yemen. There are no railways. Paved roads connect most major cities. Trucks and motor vehicles are important modes of transportation. Aden and Hodeida are the chief ports. Sana, Taizz, Hodeida, and Aden have international airports.
The People
For centuries, most of the people in northern Yemen, unlike those in most other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, have been settled, living in villages and towns. In southern Yemen, Bedouins, a traditionally nomadic people, populate the interior; the coastal areas are largely settled. The largest cities are Sana, the capital; Aden; Taizz; and Hodeida.
The Yemenis are Arabs. Almost all are Muslims, belonging to either of two main groups—the Zaidis, who make up a sect of the Shiite branch of Islam, and the Shafiis, who make up a sect of the Sunnite branch. The north is divided about evenly between Zaidis and Shafiis; almost all the people in the south are Shafiis. A much smaller Shiite group found in the north is the Ismaili sect.
Arabic is the official language. Social organization is tribal. There are both public and religious schools, but they are few in number. In the north only about 15 per cent of the Yemenis are literate; in the south, the literacy rate is somewhat higher. The leading institutions of higher learning are Sana University (founded 1970) and the University of Aden (1975).
Government
Under the constitution of 1990, the country is a republic. The executive branch is headed by the five-member Presidential Council, whose chairman serves as the country's president (head of state). The President, who is chosen by the people, serves a seven-year term and can be re-elected for a second term. A Vice-President, cabinet members, and a Prime Minister are appointed by the President. The country's popularly elected legislature, the House of Representatives, selects the Presidential Council, which in turn selects the prime minister (head of government). Members of the Presidential Council serve five-year terms and members of the House of Representatives, six -year terms. The 301 members of the House of Representatives are elected by the people while the 111 members of the Council are appointed by the President. The judicial system, headed by a supreme court, is based on Islamic law.