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INTRODUCTION
The current conflict in Yemen that started in 2014 has forced millions of Yemenis to flee their homes, leading to widespread internal displacement. According to UNHCR, 86% of displacement in 2023 in Yemen is because of war, armed conflict, and generalised violence (UNHCR unpublished).
Displaced people in Yemen increasingly face the risk of forced eviction, broadly defined by the OHCHR as “the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection” (OHCHR accessed 31/08/2023). In 2023, according to National Protection Cluster (NPC) responders, the overall number of forced evictions in Yemen has risen by an estimated 10% compared to 2022 (NPC unpublished).
Many internally displaced Yemenis have sought refuge in makeshift displacement sites, on publicly and privately owned land, and in collective centres, such as schools. Increasingly, both private and public land on which IDP sites are situated is being claimed back, resulting in the forced eviction of the IDPs who have settled there. The majority of these people do not pay any rent, but some provide free labour in return for living on the site (Consultation session with NPC responders 29/08/2023).
Other IDPs rent flats and houses. With the deteriorating economic situation in the country, including the loss of livelihoods and reduced income opportunities, more and more IDPs are unable to afford rent and exposed to the risk of forced eviction (NRC et al. 02/10/2023; Consultation session with NPC responders 29/08/2023).
Yemen lacks comprehensive and effective legal frameworks to protect tenants and property rights, putting some individuals at risk of arbitrary eviction. The national legal framework legalises evictions upon the default of rent payment after three months, essentially affecting the majority of IDP families (Yemen NIC accessed 06/12/2023). A contributing factor is the lack of legal awareness among IDPs and landlords on the limited substantive and procedural legal safeguards available, necessitating the involvement of the judiciary if a tenant does not consent to an eviction or if the eviction legality is disputed. Most IDPs lack access to legal aid or lawyers for advice and representation, mostly because of a lack of means to afford it.
A high level of tenure insecurity in Yemen compounds forced eviction threats. Inequalities in Yemeni society result in the heightened exposure of some population groups, such as Al Muhamasheen, to forced evictions. These groups lack access to tribal or other informal patronage networks and support mechanisms and face discrimination from host communities and other IDPs (MRG accessed 06/12/2023; UN-Habitat 07/08/2020). Evictions leading to the premature return of IDPs to their place of origin, i.e. when they return home without the required security in place, may undermine the Principles of Voluntary Return in Safety and Dignity (UN-Habitat 07/08/2020).
As the forced eviction rate increases, affected people may experience homelessness, new displacement, and exposure to exploitation and abuse in their new location. They may have to relocate to new, cheaper, and less-serviced neighbourhoods or locations that lack access to livelihoods and have reduced access to healthcare and education facilities. These will likely increase humanitarian needs as well.
Against this background, this analysis, jointly produced by the NPC and ACAPS, aims to provide an overview of the causes, drivers, impacts, and response gaps surrounding forced eviction in Yemen.