Internet activists, journalists, human rights advocates, and many others in Yemen are now largely unable to access the Internet due to escalation of the ongoing conflict.

Civil society and democracy supporters caught in the middle need pathways for information exchange more than ever before. An expected communication shutdown and an “Internet blackout” is expected and with it comes panic and major concern of unchecked human rights violations across the country. To address this potential blackout, a network of human rights activists are working to create four Internet access centers or hubs in four key Yemeni cities (Sanaa, Aden, Taiz and Hodeidah) where Internet access would be provided based on available services (if any) and if not, on satellite uplink/downlink services

Addressed problems

  • Localized or nationwide communications shut down or throttling (Blackouts)
  • Prohibitive cost to access the Internet

Objective(s)

  • Deploying technology

Beneficiaries

  • Youth
  • Sexual minorities
  • Activists
  • Journalists
  • Advocacy groups/NGOs
  • Academia
  • Ethnic minorities
  • General public
  • Women

Region(s) archive

  • North Africa

Countries

  • Yemen

Technology attributes

  • Not applicable