Displaced Yemeni Families Face Harassment and Entry Restrictions at Aden Checkpoints

Displaced families fleeing conflict zones in Yemen’s West Coast and Taiz governorate are facing severe movement restrictions, detentions, and reports of extortion at security checkpoints controlled by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) at the entrances to Aden.

According to human rights sources, families escaping the escalating military hostilities in the districts of Al-Makha, Hays, and Al-Khokha, as well as various areas in Taiz, have been subjected to prolonged delays and outright entry bans. Security personnel at these checkpoints reportedly justify the measures by citing the strain that the influx of displaced persons places on the city’s infrastructure, despite the lack of official government intervention to facilitate safe passage or provide humanitarian assistance.

Activists and human rights advocates report that families are frequently forced off public transport and held for hours in harsh conditions. Allegations have emerged regarding the mistreatment of civilians, particularly women, alongside accusations that security personnel are seizing personal belongings, including mobile phones, cash, and jewelry from those seeking refuge.

The challenges facing the displaced continue even upon reaching the city, where reports indicate that some families are being denied access to hotel accommodations. This systematic obstruction exacerbates the humanitarian crisis for those who have already fled bombarded villages and active combat zones in search of safety.

In response to these developments, activists have issued an urgent appeal to the Presidential Leadership Council, the leadership of the Arab Coalition, and local authorities in Aden. They are calling for an immediate end to these arbitrary practices and for the implementation of measures to ensure the safe passage and basic protection of displaced populations as the conflict in the West Coast and Taiz regions continues to intensify.