Yemen

Yemen is located on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered to the south and west by the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea and to the north by Saudi Arabia and Oman. The region was part of the Ottoman Empire for generations, but at the end of World War I, the Western powers redrew the maps of the Middle East to create a variety of new countries, including North and South Yemen. These two countries did not formally unite until 1990. With little oil and a harsh desert climate, Yemen is today the poorest country in the Middle East.

Yemen's population is 22.2 million, growing at almost 3.5 percent annually. This is largely driven by a high birth rate; there are 42.67 births per 1,000 population and the fertility rate is 6.49 births per women. Life expectancy is low for the region, at approximately 61 years for males and 65 years for females. Infant mortality is 76 deaths per 1,000 and under-5 mortality is 102 per 1,000. This is an improvement over the 1990s, but high for the region as a whole.

More than 45 percent of Yemenis live below the poverty line, with unemployment affecting 35 percent of the population. Less than a quarter of Yemenis work in the industrial or service industry. Most people work in agriculture or herding. Only 26 percent live in urban areas.

There are few widespread communicable diseases in Yemen, many of them stemming from poor sanitation, especially outside the cities. Only 28 percent of Yemenis outside the cities have sanitary facilities, and only 43 percent can access safe drinking water. Rates of various strains of hepatitis are high. Immunization rates among children are generally low. In 2000, there was a serious outbreak of Rift Valley fever (a viral hemorrhagic fever spread by animals that have been bitten by infected mosquitoes), and in 2005, there was a small polio epidemic.

The chewing of qat, the leaves of a tree widely cultivated in eastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula, is practiced by the majority of adults in Yemen and holds an uncertain place in the country's health profile. Qat is pharmacologically similar to amphetamines, providing users with a mild boost of energy. There is some belief that it also eases digestive disorders, relieves asthma attacks, and stabilizes blood sugars. Others believe that long-term usage can cause cardiovascular damage and increase the risk of oral, esophageal, and intestinal cancers. Overuse can lead to anxiety, depression, and loss of appetite, and may be particularly harmful to those predisposed to mental illness.

Women in Yemen have the highest rates of maternal mortality in the region, with 336 deaths per [Page 1774]100,000 live births. An estimated eight women die in childbirth every day. Researchers believe that 75 percent of those deaths are preventable, and stem mostly from social issues. Child marriage is not uncommon in Yemen, with 14 percent of girls married by the age of 15; early childbearing often results in maternal death. Literacy and education among women is restricted, and poverty increases the likelihood of malnutrition and general poor heath. Another risk factor is the continuing practice of female genital mutilation. Almost 85 percent of Yemeni women give birth at home, without the help of trained assistants or close access to medical facilities.

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