Dear Friends and Comrades, 

With the conflict in Yemen taking a dramatic turn this week, we are sharing a new article that examines how the sanctions regime imposed on Houthi territory has impacted households across the country. In “Remittances at Risk–War, Sanctions and Informal Finance in Yemen,” Oshin Pandey and Narayani Sritharan, two researchers for AidData, detail the hurdles faced by  Yemeni migrant workers when it comes to sending remittance payments home to their families and relations. 

International banking institutions have become increasingly wary of transfers into Yemen given a central banking system split between Aden and Sanaa, the ripple effects of a tightening regime of US-imposed sanctions and the threat of widening regional war. At the same time, deepening poverty as a result of the war and declining wages and social services mean ordinary Yemenis are using remittance funds for daily survival expenses at higher and higher levels. Pandey and Sritharan explain how Yemenis now increasingly rely on informal channels, like the hawala system, to avoid the risks of canceled transactions, uncertain exchange rates or steep fees. 

Ordinary Yemenis find themselves in a perilous situation. Tens of millions are facing food insecurity, and more face multidimensional poverty. We will continue to cover the developments in this conflict as events unfold and if you’re looking for more on Yemen, you’ll find all of our coverage on this page. 

In Solidarity,

James Ryan
Executive Director