Aden – Recent reports highlight a disturbing trend of severe human rights violations against internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Aden, attributed to security forces affiliated with the Aden Police.

These violations include arbitrary arrests, physical and verbal assaults, and threats of forced return. Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) expresses deep concern over these alarming developments.

Since early December 2024, eyewitness accounts and confidential sources have documented a troubling pattern of abuse against IDPs in camps throughout Aden governorate. Due to safety concerns, the organization "Women Journalists Without Chains" is withholding the names of these sources. Documented incidents encompass physical assaults, threats, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on humanitarian efforts within the camps. Below is a detailed account of these violations:

• Al-Hofrah Camp - Al-Buraiqa District

On December 5, 2024, a survey team entered the camp without the necessary authorization from the Executive Unit for the Management of IDP Camps, which is a requirement for such visits. When camp director Nasiba Abdul Baki asked for official documentation, the team returned with security forces in tow. She was then detained in her office, barred from communicating with the displaced persons or relevant authorities, and subjected to humiliating treatment, including armed guards stationed at her door and threats of being handed over to the police.

• Al-Shaab Camp 1 - Al-Buraiqa District

On December 5, 2024, a survey team attempted to enter the camp but faced resistance from the displaced persons. The team later returned with security forces, threatening the IDPs with imprisonment and expulsion. During this confrontation, Yahya Ismail Ahmed, a 65-year-old displaced individual, was beaten by the Deputy Director of the People's Police, while others endured insults and intimidation.

• Al-Shaab Camp 2 - Al-Buraiqa District

On the same day, the census team attempted to enter Al-Shaab Camp 2, but the IDPs objected to the procedure. The team returned with security forces, threatening the displaced with imprisonment and expulsion from the camp. Yahya Ismail Ahmed (65 years old) was beaten by the Deputy Director of Al-Shaab Police, while others faced insults and threats. On December 13, 2024, a group of armed individuals detained several displaced persons as they carried out their daily activities. The detainees were forced back to the camp at gunpoint, coerced into making confessions under duress, and filmed against their will. This detention lasted until 10:30 AM. Of particular concern is the case of Khalil Abdu Mohammed, a 15-year-old with psychological and mental disorders, who is especially vulnerable to psychological harm. His whereabouts remain unknown following the incident, raising serious concerns for his safety.

• Escalation of Violations - December 7 and 9, 2024

On December 7 and 9, 2024, the survey team made repeated visits to Al-Shaab 2 camp, where internally displaced persons (IDPs) faced physical attacks and direct threats. Women Journalists Without Chains also observed the ongoing siege imposed by security forces on the IDPs in the Al-Shaab camps, where a daily curfew has been in effect for three months. This curfew, which begins at 7:30 PM and lasts until the early morning hours, severely restricts the movement of IDPs, impeding their ability to fulfill basic needs or access medical facilities in emergencies.

Violations Statistics

Findings by Women Journalists Without Chains detail widespread human rights abuses against 74 displaced persons in the Al-Buraiqa District camps of Aden Governorate during December 2024. These abuses, which occurred amidst a three-month siege and movement restrictions affecting hundreds, included arbitrary arrests, physical and verbal assaults, threats of violence and forced return, privacy violations, racial discrimination, excessive force, community terrorism, and movement restrictions.

Appeals from the Displaced Persons

Facing escalating threats of forced return to conflict zones, displaced persons in Aden camps issued a desperate plea to government and international organizations. For four months, they have endured human rights abuses, recently intensifying. Their statement highlights media campaigns demanding their return, along with assaults and threats during data collection efforts by UNHCR and the Central Bureau of Statistics. These individuals are specifically targeted by media incitement campaigns urging their return to areas controlled by Houthi militias.

Displaced Persons in Aden Camps: Caught in the Crossfire of Political Disputes

Women Journalists Without Chains' review of official documents reveals a significant conflict between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) over the authority to manage displaced persons (IDPs) and conduct field surveys in their camps. This power struggle directly harms IDPs and obstructs humanitarian aid efforts.

Conflicting Directives on Field Surveys

A December 10, 2024, memorandum from the Prime Minister's Office to the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation highlights the overlapping mandates of the Executive Unit for the Management of IDP Camps and the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

The Prime Minister directed that the Executive Unit lead data collection and field surveys, coordinating with the CBS, and emphasized that local authorities must cooperate and cease any conflicting actions. International organizations were instructed to coordinate exclusively with the Executive Unit on all IDP matters.

However, this directive was directly contradicted. On December 15, 2024, the Minister of Local Administration issued a circular reinforcing the Prime Minister's directives, condemning interference and demanding all communication with international organizations regarding IDPs go through the Executive Unit.

Conversely, the STC issued conflicting orders. A November 24, 2024, circular from Aden's Deputy Governor, based on a CBS memo, assigned the CBS, in partnership with UNHCR and its partners, to conduct IDP surveys. District directors, community committees, and STC-affiliated security forces were instructed to facilitate this.

Furthermore, on December 15, 2024, Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi (Presidential Leadership Council member and STC head) requested the Prime Minister grant the CBS sole responsibility for IDP camp surveys, advocating for government agency involvement.

The STC's Role in Escalating the Crisis

The STC's actions directly fueled the conflict, creating a situation where multiple agencies claim authority over IDP affairs. This lack of clear jurisdiction has had devastating consequences.

Impact on Displaced Persons

The political conflict between the Yemeni government and the STC has severely worsened the plight of IDPs in Aden. Conflicting directives have caused confusion, disrupting humanitarian aid and creating an environment ripe for abuse. The lack of unified coordination has allowed some security forces to exploit the situation, resulting in threats, arrests, and forced interventions in the camps.

This has eroded trust between IDPs and authorities, leaving them vulnerable. Inaccurate and incomplete data collection further hinders the delivery of appropriate aid. Government resources are diverted to resolving the power struggle instead of addressing the urgent needs of the displaced population.

The unresolved dispute threatens to deepen the humanitarian crisis, jeopardizing the well-being of thousands of IDPs living in precarious conditions with little hope for improvement.

Systematic Incitement Campaigns Against Displaced Persons

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) has waged a systematic campaign of incitement against internally displaced persons (IDPs). The STC's deliberate mischaracterization of these IDPs as "northern," despite their Yemeni citizenship, aims to otherize them and justify discriminatory practices. This campaign, highlighted by the STC Presidium's September rejection of resettlement and fueled by online hashtags like #Displacement_to_the_South_is_Systematic_Destruction, includes explicit calls from STC leaders, activists, and media outlets for their forced return to conflict zones. This hateful rhetoric ignores their dire humanitarian situation and constitutes a serious violation of their fundamental rights.

Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions in Aden's Displacement Camps

In Aden Governorate, approximately 3,628 displaced families are struggling in 34 camps and informal settlements, facing increasingly dire humanitarian conditions. These families, having fled conflict zones, contend with severe shortages of essential services, including clean drinking water, food, and healthcare. Daily life in these camps is marked by hardship, as the lack of basic necessities constrains their ability to survive and rebuild their lives.

Compounding these challenges, displaced persons endure harassment and assaults from various security and community entities, heightening their sense of insecurity. The absence of comprehensive strategies from authorities to address these issues leaves the camps without sustainable development programs or adequate protections for the vulnerable population. This neglect not only exacerbates their living conditions but also increases the risk of exploitation, as many displaced individuals lack the legal safeguards necessary to uphold their rights.

Severe Human Rights Violations

The violations against displaced persons in Aden's camps constitute a serious breach of fundamental rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the right to liberty, security, and protection from torture or cruel treatment. Attacks on the sanctity of homes and privacy further highlight the precarious conditions faced by these vulnerable individuals. Racial discrimination and identity-based insults violate the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, while threats and the use of force contravene United Nations principles governing law enforcement.

Moreover, these actions clash with international humanitarian law, which prohibits forced displacement and the involuntary transfer of civilians as outlined in the Fourth Geneva Convention. Forcing displaced persons to return to unsafe areas breaches the principle of non-refoulement, a critical safeguard for those internally displaced. Additionally, media incitement that fosters discrimination and hatred undermines the resolutions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, further exacerbating the vulnerabilities of these displaced individuals and perpetuating a cycle of violence and injustice.

Violations of Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Imposing curfews and besieging camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights. These actions contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of movement and the security and liberty of individuals. Similarly, they violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, undermining each individual's right to be treated with humanity and dignity. Furthermore, such measures deprive IDPs of essential rights, including the right to health, food, and adequate housing, as outlined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Guiding Principles on the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons.

Additionally, besieging civilians in IDP camps constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits targeting civilians and using them as human shields. Curfews impose inhumane treatment on these vulnerable populations, violating states’ obligations under the Geneva Conventions. These measures also reflect discrimination against IDPs, denying them equal rights to freedom of movement and access to basic services. Such actions contravene the principle of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in international human rights law, further exacerbating the hardships faced by those already in desperate circumstances.

Condemnation Statement

Women Journalists Without Chains condemns in the strongest possible terms the violations committed by security forces affiliated with the Transitional Council against displaced individuals in Aden. These actions, which include harassment, abuse, and denial of basic rights, constitute a flagrant violation of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law. Such practices are deeply concerning and demand urgent intervention.

The organization also denounces the systematic incitement campaigns led by leaders, activists, and media outlets associated with the Transitional Council. These campaigns promote hate speech and target displaced persons, a vulnerable group already suffering from the consequences of war and displacement. This incitement not only exacerbates their suffering but also exposes them to further harm, reflecting a troubling disregard for humanitarian and moral principles by those responsible.

WJWC demands an immediate end to all forms of violations against displaced persons. It calls on the Yemeni government and the Presidential Leadership Council to prioritize the protection of displaced communities in areas under their control. These authorities must uphold their legal and moral obligations by ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of displaced individuals, as enshrined in national and international laws.

The organization further calls on the United Nations and international human rights bodies to conduct independent investigations into these serious violations. Accountability must be ensured for all parties involved, whether they are security forces or media platforms spreading hate speech and incitement. Media outlets that engage in incitement must be closely monitored and held accountable under international laws that criminalize hate speech and incitement to violence.

Additionally, it urges international humanitarian organizations, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to take immediate action to provide protection and assistance to displaced persons. It stresses the need to prevent any practices that coerce displaced individuals into providing personal data under duress. The organization also calls on all stakeholders to treat displaced persons not as mere statistics or tools for political gain, but as individuals who deserve full respect for their human rights and dignity.

In conclusion, Women Journalists Without Chains reiterates that displaced persons are victims of war and conflict. Their suffering must not be compounded by violations, incitement, or exploitation. The organization calls on all parties to act with urgency to protect the displaced and to uphold the principles of humanity, justice, and accountability.

Released by:

Women Journalists Without Chains

December 28, 2024