Fourth Edition | Second Half of May 2026 – Radar Aden

Fourth Edition | Report Date: (May 16 – May 31) Second Half of May 2026
Geographical Scope: The Capital, Aden (Sheikh Othman, Al Mansoura, Al Mualla, Khormaksar, Al Buraiqeh, Dar Saad, Sira, Al Tawahi)

Overview

The field assessment for the second half of May 2026 reflects a sharp and tragic deterioration in the general landscape of the capital, Aden, where service crises intertwine with deep security and economic imbalances. This period witnessed unprecedented popular anger following security and moral scandals, a complete collapse of the civil defense system manifested in the “Kuz Mart” fire, and an exacerbation of fatal traffic accidents on vital roads such as the Marine Road (Bridge Road). This was accompanied by a suffocating cost-of-living crisis that pushed citizens to the brink of malnutrition, amid a total absence of government solutions and a delay in salary disbursements before the Eid al-Adha holiday. Politically, notable regional and local movements emerged aimed at reshaping the political and tribal map in the South.

Note to reader: This summary is followed by the full detailed report, an indicator chart by district, and urgent recommendations below.

Key Challenges and Field Indicators

1. Service Collapse and Public Safety

Suffocating Electricity Crisis: The power outage crisis continues to escalate, reaching up to 18 hours of blackouts on some days. Operating hours are characterized by instability, coupled with a complete lack of response via emergency numbers.
Water and Sanitation Crisis: The Water Corporation suffers from severe disruptions and continuous outages without a clear schedule. In areas like Al Tawahi (Al-Qalou’a), the outage lasted for several days due to a broken water pipe. Dar Saad also suffers from sewage overflows due to the disappearance of diesel allocated to operate sanitation pumps.
Civil Defense Disaster (Kuz Mart Fire): The massive fire that devoured the “Kuz Mart” commercial complex in Al Mansoura revealed the complete inability and utter failure of the civil defense forces. Fire trucks arrived late—more than an hour after the report, despite the distance not exceeding 3 kilometers—with punctured and dilapidated water hoses, resulting in water leaking onto the ground instead of extinguishing the fire, in a scene described as both comical and tragic.
Lack of Traffic Safety (Marine Road/Bridge Road in Khormaksar): The Bridge Road is a vital artery, yet it lacks the most basic safety features, making it a continuous scene for almost daily tragic and fatal traffic accidents. The road suffers from pitch darkness at night and a total lack of lighting. Deep potholes force drivers into sudden maneuvers, causing them to lose control. The road lacks concrete dividers and barriers, meaning any attempt to avoid a pothole results in a direct and violent head-on collision with oncoming vehicles, which explains the high annual death toll.

2. Security and Political Developments

Fragility of the Security System and the Rape Scandal: The fragility of the security forces affiliated with Aden Security has increased following a series of rape scandals involving military personnel who were illegally released from police stations. The rape of a child caused a moral shock that rocked the community, especially after the perpetrator was released and the security administration became complicit through silence and facilitating the perpetrator’s exit without referring the case to the prosecution. Instead of pursuing the perpetrator, a coercive arrest warrant was issued against Adel Al-Hasani, an activist residing outside Yemen who exposed the crime via the “Abnaa Aden” platform, which further fueled popular anger.
Seasonal Security Stability and Positive Traffic Efforts: In contrast to the general tension, the days of the Eid al-Adha holiday were characterized by notable calm and security stability, and the capital witnessed a large influx of visitors from neighboring governorates. The assessment observed good and tangible performance by the traffic police in managing the suffocating congestion, supported by an exceptional deployment of National Security forces (formerly the Security Belt) to secure street intersections and protect traffic officers from assaults and acts of thuggery they usually face during peak hours.
Security Targeting of Organizations: It was observed that some organizations continue to work from home due to the gunfire targeting the Red Cross building. For the first time in the city’s history, security forces were seen permanently stationed next to the Red Cross buildings.
Political Entrenchment and Removal of Slogans: Systematic operations were noticed to remove pictures of political leaders (such as the president of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council) and flags of the South from main streets and public facilities, in a move reflecting a desire to reduce political polarization and limit the militarization of neighborhoods.
Death of President Hadi and the Impact of Rumors: On May 28 (the second day of Eid), the report monitored the street’s reaction to the announcement of the death of former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, for whom a condolence gathering was held at the “Aden Mall” hall. This event was accompanied by the intensive marketing of widespread rumors claiming his death was not natural and that he was “assassinated by Saudi Arabia.” Despite these being merely rumors lacking evidence, they gained traction and fueled a state of sorrow and popular anger toward the Kingdom.

3. Economic Situation and Food Security

Cost of Living and Malnutrition: An average family (5 people) in Aden needs a minimum weekly food basket costing approximately 30,000 YER (about $20). Given that the average public sector salary is 100,000 YER, the weekly allocation will not exceed 2.5 kilograms per person, portending chronic malnutrition, especially among children.
Currency Collapse and Rising Prices: Living stability is tied to the accelerating collapse of the Yemeni Rial. While the traded rate for the US Dollar is officially stable at 1,573 YER, the actual pricing of the dollar in sales has reached the 2,295 YER mark. This has led to successive price jumps in basic commodities and foodstuffs.
Purchasing Power During Eid: Sheep meat prices recorded a notable decline (between 100,000 to 140,000 YER per sacrificial animal) for the first time in three years. Despite this, the failure to pay employee salaries before Eid caused a significant reluctance to purchase and a marked weakness in commercial activity.

4. General Mood and Popular Protests

State of Tension and Despair: The psychological and social mood is characterized by an overwhelming state of resentment, suppressed anger, and despair, with repeated phrases summarizing the residents’ suffering, such as: “We are slowly dying in this city; the heat and darkness are stealing our lives and the lives of our children.”
Field Protests: Angry demonstrations broke out in Al Buraiqeh demanding the provision of gas, and protesters blocked roads at night in Khormaksar condemning the deterioration of services. Protest vigils were also organized to demand justice in the rape cases.
Reverse Displacement: Discussions among displaced persons and newcomers have increased regarding the options of reverse displacement and leaving Aden for their home villages, fleeing the high cost of living and the severe heat wave coinciding with the lack of electricity.

Response Roadmap (Key Urgent Recommendations)

Based on the severity of the field indicators, we present the following immediate interventions to local authorities and government bodies to mitigate the comprehensive collapse:

Security and Human Rights Response (Law Enforcement and Accountability)

Form an Independent and Urgent Investigative Committee: To investigate the rape cases and security involvement, and hold accountable the commanders who colluded in covering up or facilitating the smuggling of perpetrators out of prisons.
Cancel Malicious Prosecutions: Drop the coercive arrest warrants issued against activists who exposed the assault crimes, and provide protection for whistleblowers instead of intimidating them.
Secure International Organizations: Enhance disciplined security presence to protect the headquarters of international and local organizations (like the Red Cross building) to ensure the continuity of their humanitarian work and prevent their staff from being forced to work from home.

Service and Public Safety Response (Civil Defense and Roads)

Restructure and Equip Civil Defense: Urgent intervention to provide the Civil Defense Department with modern fire trucks, immediately replace dilapidated and punctured water hoses, and conduct emergency training for dealing with fires in large commercial complexes.
Ensure Safety on the “Bridge Road” (Marine Road): The Public Works and Roads Office must take immediate action to repair deep potholes, install adequate lighting, and place concrete barriers (dividers) to prevent head-on collisions and reduce the tragic death toll.
Address Sewage and Water Issues: Impose strict security oversight on sanitation pumps in “Dar Saad” to prevent the loss of diesel allocated for their operation, and expedite the repair of broken water pipes in Al Tawahi (Al-Qalou’a) to restore pumping to residents.
Manage the Electricity Crisis: Find urgent relief solutions to provide fuel and reduce outage hours, which reach 18 hours, along with the genuine activation of operations rooms and emergency numbers to respond to citizen reports.

Economic and Food Security Response

Disburse Delayed Salaries: Compel the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance to quickly disburse public sector salaries (especially during holiday periods) to salvage the collapsed purchasing power and stimulate commercial activity.
Counter the Risk of Malnutrition: Launch government support programs or collaborate with international organizations to provide “subsidized food baskets” for the poorest families to avert the risk of chronic malnutrition threatening children due to reduced food rations.
Provide Domestic Gas and Fuel: Pump sufficient quantities of domestic gas in districts experiencing severe shortages (like Al Buraiqeh) to prevent the escalation of protests and road closures by angry citizens.

Aden Radar Platform

This report summarizes the outputs of the field and community assessment conducted by male and female volunteers from the youth committees affiliated with the National Network for Community and Youth Initiatives across 8 key districts in the capital, Aden, during the second half of May 2026. The report aims to accurately and impartially convey the “pulse of the street,” placing at the forefront of its priorities the comprehensive service collapse, the breakdown of public safety and civil defense, eroding purchasing power, and the security and moral scandals that shook community trust. The report concludes by presenting an urgent response roadmap for authorities to remedy these complex humanitarian and security crises.

Detailed Report for the “Aden Radar” Platform

Introduction

The capital, Aden, continues to face successive and harsh chapters of complex and prolonged crises, where tragic service deterioration and critical institutional breakdown intertwine with deep security and economic imbalances, placing the city and its residents under the weight of an overwhelming state of resentment and suppressed popular tension. In this documented field assessment for the second half of May until early June 2026, the “Radar Aden” platform recorded signs of a major service and humanitarian setback. This was manifested in power outage hours reaching record levels of 18 hours per day, coinciding with a suffocating heatwave and recurring fuel crises that disrupted daily life and spoiled the Eid al-Adha holiday for citizens, preventing them from enjoying it. The suffering was not limited to energy but extended to include a suffocating water crisis and severe disruptions in pumping networks, leading to continuous service cuts for entire neighborhoods for days, as well as catastrophic sewage overflows in several neighborhoods, such as Dar Saad district, due to administrative corruption involving the loss of diesel allocated for pumps.

This period also revealed a bitter structural collapse in the public safety and civil defense system, embodied in the flagrant inability and late arrival to extinguish the massive fire that engulfed the “Kuz Mart” commercial complex in Al Mansoura. Firefighting teams arrived with dilapidated and punctured water hoses, turning the investment disaster and the loss of jobs for dozens of employees into a tragicomic scene that provoked the street’s mockery and resentment. In a related context, serious dilemmas threatening traffic safety emerged on the Bridge Road (Marine Road) connecting the Khormaksar and Al Mansoura districts. This vital artery lacks nighttime lighting completely and is riddled with deep potholes, with a total absence of central concrete barriers separating the two directions. This makes it a continuous scene for tragic traffic accidents and direct collisions claiming dozens of lives annually, amid an unjustified and continuous official dereliction of duty regarding maintenance for a long time.

On the economic and living front, Adeni families faced unprecedented supply and monetary pressures. The purchasing power of citizens and employees has eroded, and their living stability has become tied to the accelerating collapse of the Yemeni Rial against foreign currencies in the parallel and virtual market, with the US Dollar surpassing the 2,295 YER mark and the Saudi Riyal reaching 600 YER in the hidden pricing of products. This monetary deterioration caused successive price jumps for foodstuffs and basic commodities, raising the minimum cost of a proposed weekly basic vegetable basket for an average family of 5 to approximately 30,000 YER (equivalent to $20). With public sector salaries stagnating at an average of 100,000 YER, and the Eid occasion arriving without the disbursement of salaries to male and female employees, the markets witnessed significant reluctance and a clear paralysis in commercial purchasing activity. The assessment warned that the inability to bear this cost forces families to reduce their food rations to no more than 2.5 kilograms per individual weekly in the best-case scenario, warning of a chronic malnutrition disaster looming over the population, especially children, even if it temporarily protects them from acute hunger. This tragic service and economic reality prompted many newcomers and displaced persons to discuss options for reverse displacement and leaving Aden for their original villages and regions, fleeing the high living costs and the fatal heatwave coinciding with the lack of electricity.

On the security and institutional level, the city experienced violent shocks that undermined the street’s trust in the security system, following the eruption of a series of moral scandals, extortion crimes, and rapes of minor children involving military personnel and commanders affiliated with the security and military apparatuses of the then-dissolved Southern Transitional Council, covered up by senior leaders in the dissolved Council in several areas such as Al-Mamdara, Dar Saad, and Al Buraiqeh. Societal resentment and overwhelming anger doubled after monitoring a suspicious institutional path in which the Aden Security Administration resorted to silence and cover-ups for months, facilitating the smuggling of these perpetrators and releasing them via top-down orders from prisons. Instead of enforcing the law and issuing secret coercive arrest warrants to pursue the fleeing suspects, security authorities issued publicly announced coercive arrest warrants on the official website against activists and human rights defenders (most notably activist Adel Al-Hasani) who exposed these crimes to public opinion, under the pretext of “destabilizing security and spreading anxiety.” Citizens considered this a stab at the core of justice and an exploitation of the institution to protect criminals, facilitate their escape, and intimidate society.

On another note, this coincided with a statement by the Aden Security Administration denying its connection to the so-called Extortion Unit, which was run by a series of security personnel under a pseudonymous Facebook account named “Saqr Aden.” The reasons for issuing this statement followed a group of complaints from affected women reporting financial and sexual extortion by those running this unit. Despite the security administration’s statement, citizens were unconvinced, as the account had previously filmed sensitive security and military locations and even filmed interrogation operations in both Aden Security and Counter-Terrorism departments. It was considered the primary account for all security apparatuses loyal to the dissolved Southern Transitional Council. This caused a massive crisis of trust, particularly toward female figures, activists, and female lawyers known for coordinating between victims of extortion and sexual violence and this group.

This security fragility was accompanied by direct targeting of international organizations; the gunfire targeting the International Committee of the Red Cross building prompted some international organizations to restrict their operations and work from home, amid a preventive deployment of security forces permanently stationed next to their headquarters for the first time in the city’s history.

On the political and symbolic front, Aden witnessed hidden dynamism and notable field transformations; represented in the systematic and continuous removal of pictures of leaders of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (such as Aidarous Al-Zoubaidi) and flags of the South from main streets and public facilities in the districts of Sheikh Othman, Khormaksar, and Al Mansoura. These are field steps reflecting a popular desire and measures aimed at reducing the pace of polarization and the militarization of neighborhoods. This coincided with a state of division among the political leaders who were affiliated with the Council following the announcement of its dissolution in Riyadh, with some returning from Saudi Arabia to form new political components on the scene, most notably the “New Southern National Movement Council” led by Abdulraouf Al-Saqqaf. In a highly significant social and political development, the first return of tribal and social figures from the descendants of former Sultans in South Yemen was recorded days ago, arriving in Aden for the first time since after independence in 1967, following decades of absence in Saudi Arabia. Residents believe this historic step came with direct regional support and encouragement, aiming to restore sovereignty, rebuild tribal rule, and activate the Sultanate system for tribes as a new political and social lever in South Yemen to organize the political space. This was further complicated politically and emotionally during the holiday by the announcement of the death of former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi on the second day of Eid, and the political rumors marketed during his condolence gathering claiming he was assassinated, which sparked a wave of anger directed at regional interventions.

Continuing our firm approach at the “Radar Aden” platform and the civil umbrella of the “National Network for Community and Youth Initiatives,” this fourth edition places the outcomes of the documented community assessment—through the eyes of the young male and female volunteers of the youth committees present in all neighborhoods and districts—before decision-makers, government agencies, local authorities, and the international community. This report does not merely monitor daily suffering and convey it with the highest degrees of neutrality and transparency via a rigorous tripartite verification methodology to limit rumors; it also provides a deep analytical reading of the “pulse of the street” and the general mood, accompanied by an urgent response roadmap and immediate recommendations to rectify overlapping crises and contain the escalating service and security tension before the city slips into catastrophic levels of chaos. We place this report in the hands of all relevant authorities, reaffirming that ignoring these critical indicators and the lack of a rapid response to the street’s demands will only translate into further loss of lives and a deepening of the trust gap between the citizen and the state.

Brief Profile

About the National Network for Community and Youth Initiatives (NNCYI): The National Network is a leading civil umbrella aiming to empower young men and women and actively involve them in decision-making and the development of their local communities. The network works on building the capacities of youth committees and qualifying them to be a reliable link between citizens and responsible authorities, with a focus on promoting the values of transparency, accountability, and community peace.

About the Youth Committees: The Youth Committees are an organized civil volunteer framework operating within residential neighborhoods under the umbrella of the “National Network for Community and Youth Initiatives.” These committees primarily aim to promote community, civil, and volunteer work in the neighborhoods. The Youth Committees perform their roles according to strict governing principles that include peacefulness, civility, neutrality, transparency, volunteerism, and respect for the law. The guiding principles emphasize that they carry out their duties without holding any official or security status, and without exercising any coercive roles or interventions outside the framework of the law.

About the “Radar Aden” Platform: It is a qualitative community assessment and early warning initiative, founded and supervised by the youth committees in the National Network. The platform relies on a wide network comprising over 200 male and female volunteers from the youth committees distributed across various neighborhoods and districts of the capital, Aden. The platform acts as a radar that records the pulse of the street with complete objectivity and neutrality; volunteers collect data related to services, security, and public mood using electronic forms. This data undergoes a strict verification process via a “triangulation” methodology (verifying information through 3 different sources) to limit rumors and provide accurate and reliable information. This report aims to put this data in the hands of authorities, decision-makers, and service providers to direct urgent interventions toward the real needs of the citizens.

First: Crises of Basic Services and Public Institutions (Comprehensive Collapse and Dilapidated Infrastructure)

The public services sector and infrastructure in the capital, Aden, suffer from a deep-rooted structural crisis that has surpassed the concept of transient operational breakdowns, reaching a stage of total and prolonged operational failure. This deterioration is evident in the near-total paralysis of power systems, prolonged interruptions in water supplies, and the collapse of safety and civil defense lines, amid clear administrative and executive dereliction in devising radical solutions for the successive crises that worsened with the onset of summer and the Eid al-Adha holiday.

1. Energy Crisis and Record Electricity Outages

Field Reality: The power outage crisis topped the service suffering scene with the harshest and most continuous pattern; where continuous blackout hours reached up to 18 hours daily on some days. The system was characterized by severe technical confusion in managing loads and distributing power among residential blocks, with excessively low operating hours and a complete lack of response via emergency numbers. This deterioration was accompanied by a suffocating political crisis represented by the refusal of the leadership in Hadramout and Marib governorates to supply the crude oil allocated to operate generation stations in Aden, which caused the complete shutdown of several stations, and a total lack of diesel in the markets lasting for several continuous days, exacerbating the total deficit in providing operational fuel.

Community Impact: The fatal rise in temperatures and suffocating humidity turned residents’ lives into a continuous hell, leading to an increase in cases of severe asphyxiation and child fatalities due to the lack of oxygen and power. The government’s inability provoked overwhelming popular anger and sporadic calls for demonstrations and protests, and forced families to urgently store and consume refrigerated meats for fear of them spoiling in refrigerators.

A photo depicting the reality of demonstrations and protests using burning tires (Photo taken by the Radar Aden platform team).

2. Deterioration of Water and Sanitation Sector and Sewage Overflows

Field Reality: The drinking water service faced severe disruption and extended outages for long periods without any clear pumping schedule from the local corporation. In Al Tawahi district (Al-Qalou’a Al-Roumi neighborhood), the water outage lasted four continuous days for all neighborhood residents due to an untreated mechanical break in the main pumping pipe. In Dar Saad district, the crisis of sewage (cesspit) overflows worsened, flooding streets and roads due to the weak operation of the sewage pump, caused by the pump administration stealing the diesel allocations required to run its generators.

Community Impact: The water crisis deprived residents of practicing their religious rituals and basic needs during the days of Waqfa and Eid al-Adha, leading to a notable lack of crowds at Eid prayer grounds (like Shamsan Stadium in Al Mualla) due to the unavailability of water for washing and ablution. Promises and media publications by water officials were met with widespread mockery from citizens who described them as mere “Ibuprofen injections” and temporary anesthesia that changed nothing about the reality of the outages.

3. Collapse of the Civil Defense Line and the Disastrous Kuz Mart Fire

Field Reality: Al Mansoura district (Remy Corniche line adjacent to Al-Mumlah) witnessed the outbreak of a massive and extremely huge fire in the “Kuz Mart” commercial center, one of the largest shopping centers in the city, where flames entirely devoured the main shopping hall and warehouses, causing structural ruin and total destruction of contents. The incident revealed a horrifying inability and delay in the response of the firefighting teams affiliated with the Civil Defense; when the single fire truck arrived after a long time, the technical shock of dilapidated equipment was represented by the fact that the “water hoses” were punctured and cut, causing water to leak onto the ground and lose the pushing pressure necessary for extinguishing.

Community Impact: The rescue operation turned into a “tragicomic” scene provoking mockery and community resentment due to the lack of field coordination and primitive expertise. The disaster left massive material losses in the millions of Rials, caused a major investment shock for citizens, and cut off the livelihoods of dozens of employees and workers who lost their sole source of income without any promises of compensation.

4. Lack of Traffic Safety Elements on the Bridge Road (Marine Road)

Field Reality: The assessment monitored the lack of the most basic traffic and engineering safety elements on the Bridge Road – the vital artery connecting Khormaksar and Al Mansoura districts. The road suffers from pitch darkness and a total lack of lighting at night. Deep potholes are scattered along the highway, requiring dangerous sudden maneuvers by drivers to avoid them, parallel to a complete absence of central concrete barriers and dividers separating the two directions of traffic.

Community Impact: These engineering flaws have turned the Bridge Road into a continuous stage for tragic and violent traffic accidents, where avoiding any pothole leads to vehicle deviation and a direct head-on collision with oncoming traffic, which explains the terrifying annual rise in fatalities and injuries. The street is witnessing suppressed anger due to the official authorities and Public Works’ dereliction in making repairs since the month of Ramadan until after the two Eids, creating a conviction that residents’ lives are treated with apathy.

A photo depicting the reality in various streets that lack traffic and engineering safety elements (Photo taken by the Radar Aden platform team).

Second: Security and Political Dynamics (Institutional Fragility and Community Tension)

The security and political scene in the capital, Aden, is characterized by a sort of fragility and institutional turmoil, where levels of public tranquility have vanished in the face of the eruption of criminal and moral scandals, and the decline of the security system’s role in protecting society, parallel to monitoring hidden political movements and symbolic changes in the city’s space.

1. Scandals of Rape, Extortion Crimes, and Impunity

Field Reality: The capital Aden (districts of Al-Mamdara, Dar Saad, Al Mansoura, Al Buraiqeh) witnessed a state of overwhelming anger following the exposure of a heinous rape crime committed by a commander affiliated with the Southern military brigades against a minor child. The case proceedings revealed a suspicious institutional security path; the Aden Security Administration maintained silence and blackout for several months regarding the crime due to the perpetrator’s affiliation with a powerful military institution, culminating in top-down decisions that led to the perpetrator’s release and smuggling out of the Al-Mamdara police prison. Instead of pursuing him, the security director issued a publicly announced coercive arrest warrant on the official website against the human rights activist (Adel Al-Hasani) who exposed the incident, on charges of destabilizing security.

Community Impact: This tragedy caused a shock that rocked the community and triggered sharp popular anger and widespread demands for justice and retribution. Exposing the security moves by publishing the warrant publicly to help him escape led to a total collapse of the deterrence system and citizens’ absolute loss of trust in the security apparatus, which the street now sees as a “cover for perpetrators and a protector of the lowest of people” instead of a shield for victims.

2. Security Targeting of International Organizations and Expanding State of Anticipation

Field Reality: Assessment reports monitored the continuous suspension of fieldwork by some international and local organizations, forcing their teams to work from home. This precautionary measure came as a direct backlash to the shooting incident targeting the main headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Aden. For the first time in the city’s history, a permanent deployment and military patrols belonging to security forces were seen protecting the outer perimeter of the building and organization headquarters.

Community Impact: This scene created a state of apprehension and suppressed anxiety in civil circles regarding the possibility of shrinking international humanitarian aid, or the departure of relief missions due to mounting security risks and the targeting of international facilities, which negatively impacts the beneficiaries of the support.

3. Symbolic Political Transformations, Emerging Components, and the Return of the Sultans’ Descendants

Field Reality: Volunteers monitored a field phenomenon represented in the systematic removal of pictures of prominent political leaders – headed by the president of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, Aidarous Al-Zoubaidi – and the lowering and reduction of Southern flags from streets and public facilities in the districts of Sheikh Othman, Al Mansoura, and Khormaksar. This coincided politically with the defection of some former Council leaders following the announcement of its dissolution in Riyadh, returning from Saudi Arabia to establish emerging components, most notably the “New Southern National Movement Council” led by Abdulraouf Al-Saqqaf. Furthermore, the first return of tribal and social figures from the descendants of former Sultans to Aden was recorded for the first time since post-independence in 1967, after long decades of exile.

Community Impact: A wide segment of the Adeni street and observers believe that the return of the Sultans’ descendants came with direct regional support and encouragement from Saudi Arabia, as a calculated political step aiming to reactivate and build the “tribal rule and Sultanates system for tribes” in South Yemen as a new lever to manage the political space, reduce polarization, and de-militarize neighborhoods.

4. Death of President Hadi and Emotional and Political Charging

Field Reality: On May 28, 2026 (the second day of the Eid al-Adha holiday), the death of former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi was announced, and the city witnessed the hosting of a large official and popular condolence gathering at the “Aden Mall” hall, attended by social figures and citizens.

Community Impact: This grave event was accompanied by the intensive marketing of widespread rumors in popular circles and on social platforms, claiming that the death was not natural and adopting the hypothesis that “Saudi Arabia assassinated and eliminated him.” Despite assertions that this narrative is merely unsupported “rumors” lacking any evidence, it gained massive traction and fueled a state of deep sorrow and suppressed popular anger against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reflecting the high level of tension and the ease with which the general mood can be swayed.

Third: Market Movement and Food & Living Security Indicators (Eroding Purchasing Power and Malnutrition Risks)

The capital Aden faces suffocating living and monetary pressures that have reached unbearable levels, where the daily stability of families has been linked to the comprehensive financial collapse of the local currency, lack of oversight, and commodity hoarding, putting children’s food security on the edge of chronic danger.

1. Accelerating Currency Collapse and Cost of Living Crisis

Field Reality: Exchange markets at the end of May recorded record levels of collapse for the Yemeni Rial against foreign currencies in government-controlled areas; the official rate reached 1,558 YER for buying and 1,573 YER for selling against one US Dollar. However, actual parallel and virtual market rates (the final pricing for commodities) vastly exceeded this, breaking the 2,295 YER per dollar barrier, while the Saudi Riyal reached 600 YER. This monetary deterioration immediately translated into successive and rapid price jumps for all food commodities and basic materials, amidst a total absence of oversight from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Community Impact: Price chaos and monetary collapse left families unable to keep up with commodity prices, widening the service discrimination gap, and significantly increasing the number of beggars in residential neighborhoods (such as the Inma real estate city in Al Buraiqeh), especially during the holiday and Eid days.

2. Cost of the Food Basket and Its Impact on Children

Field Reality: Accurate field assessments showed that an average family of 5 in Aden needs a minimum weekly proposed basic vegetable basket (tomatoes, potatoes, onions, carrots, chili peppers, lemons, zucchini, coriander) costing nearly 30,000 Yemeni Rials, equivalent to about $20 weekly at current stall prices.

Community Impact: Comparing this weekly cost with the average public sector employee salary of 100,000 YER per month, spending 120,000 YER monthly on vegetables alone is impossible; forcing families to reduce the weekly individual ration to under 2.5 kilograms in the best-case scenario. Field experts confirm that this deficit and forced reduction in nutritional rations – even if it prevents immediate acute hunger – will inevitably lead to chronic malnutrition among the population and children.

3. Paralysis of Purchasing Power and Reluctance to Buy During Eid Holiday

Field Reality: Reports monitored an unprecedented and notable decline in the prices of sacrificial animals and sheep meat compared to previous years; citizens were able to buy sacrificial rams at an average ranging between 100,000, 120,000, and 140,000 YER for the first time in three years. Despite this price drop, the Eid holiday arrived without the government disbursing salaries and financial dues to public sector employees.

Community Impact: Delayed salaries caused a massive and comprehensive community reluctance to buy, paralyzing commercial movement in the markets almost completely and causing severe weakness in purchasing power. Citizens expressed their suppressed anger at officials’ disregard for their suffering, and prevailing conversations in “Maqeel” gatherings and transport focused on the government’s failure and its glaring inability to secure the most basic requirements of a dignified human life.

Fourth: Food Security Indicators and Rumors Table

1. Food Security and Price Indicators

Market movement during the second half of May reflects severe volatility and price jumps influenced by the parallel exchange rate collapse. The most prominent monitored commodity and supply indicators manifest as follows:

Poultry and Meats: Chicken prices per whole unit (1,000 grams) ranged between 4,700 to 5,000 YER, with some varieties reaching 6,500 to 8,000 YER. Meanwhile, sheep meat prices per kilo recorded a 30% increase during Eid days, reaching 18,000 YER, particularly in Al Buraiqeh and Al Mansoura districts.
Oils and Basic Materials: A 1.5-liter bottle of cooking oil recorded stability at 5,000 YER in some neighborhoods, while larger containers (4 to 5 liters) ranged between 10,500 to 18,000 YER depending on quality. Sugar (kilo) stabilized at 1,100 to 1,300 YER, and rice (kilo) at 2,200 to 2,500 YER.
Flour and Bread Loaves: A sack of flour (50 kg) stabilized at an average of 38,000 YER, while Roti and white bread loaves witnessed price manipulation among bakeries; prices ranged from 70 to 100 YER per loaf depending on size and bakery, and in some neighborhoods sold at 80 YER, or 3 loaves for 200 YER.
Drinking Water (Kawthar): Drinking water prices (Kawthar – 500-liter tanks) saw a sudden increase from 6,000 YER to 7,000 YER due to the outage of government water network services and increased demand.
Basic vegetable prices also recorded insane jumps, with (Chili peppers/Besbas) rising by over 215% to 6,000 YER, and (Eggplant) by 206% to 1,500 YER, doubling the cost of the vegetable basket for families.

Detailed Prices:

Item / Food Material	Average Price or Range (in YER)	Notes and Field Indicators
Poultry (Whole Chicken)	4,700 to 5,000 YER (reaching 8,000 for some types)	Continuous fluctuation, large sizes reaching up to 12,000 YER.
Sheep Meat	18,000 YER per kilo	Recorded a 30% price increase during the Eid period.
Eid Sacrifices (Rams)	100,000 to 140,000 YER	Decline in sacrifice prices compared to the last three years, averaging 150,000 YER in some areas.
Cooking Oil	5,000 YER (1.5-liter bottle)	Relative stability for small sizes, while large containers (4-5 liters) range between 10,500 and 18,000 YER.
White Flour	38,000 YER (50 kg sack)	General stability in bulk sack prices, with varying retail prices (5 kilos for 4,500 YER).
Rice	2,200 to 2,500 YER per kilo	Relatively stable prices in most districts despite the general monetary deterioration.
Sugar	1,100 to 1,600 YER per kilo	Slight variation between districts and groceries.
Bread and Roti	70 to 100 YER per loaf	Manipulation in weights and prices between bakeries; some sell 3 loaves for 200 YER.
Drinking Water (Kawthar)	7,000 YER (500-liter tank)	Sudden rise from previous 6,000 YER due to government network outages and increased demand.

2. Rumors and Psychological Impact Table

The field assessment shows the widespread circulation of several unconfirmed rumors and news reflecting the state of continuous anxiety and psychological anticipation in the Adeni street at the end of May 2026:

Rumor Type	Details of Rumor Monitored in the Community Space	Extent of Public Belief and Psychological Impact
Political / Security	Complete withdrawal of the Security Belt forces and handing over Aden to the Nation Shield forces, creating new regional tensions and alignments.	Divided and Cautious: Created severe apprehension and anticipation among members of various security units and citizens.
Service / Political	Corruption magnates intentionally withdrawing and hoarding generation station fuel to choke the people and subjugate them to political choices managed under the table.	Full and Absolute Belief: Reinforced the overwhelming state of resentment and popular charging toward blocking roads and burning tires.
Service / Community	The Meteorological Authority issuing warnings of an upcoming fatal heatwave that will reach “hellish killing” levels.	High Belief and Anxiety: Doubled the rising cases of fear and psychological panic regarding the lives of the elderly and children.
Political / Administrative	Imminent regional decisions to overthrow the Governor of Aden and appoint Major General Mahmoud Al-Subaihi as head of a new presidential council.	Low Belief: Circulated as a kind of hope to find an administrative way out of the successive crises in the city.
Political / Community	Death of President Hadi: Former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi was subjected to an “assassination and liquidation” operation by Saudi Arabia, and his death was not natural.	High Belief and Anxiety: The rumor generated a massive wave of sorrow and popular anger directed against Saudi Arabia, despite the lack of any evidence proving this.

Detailed Indicators by District

District	Services and Infrastructure Status	Safety and Urban Environment	Public Mood and Security Situation	Status Level
Dar Saad	🔴 Critical: Total weakness in sewage pump.	🔴 Widespread sewage overflow covering roads and garbage accumulation.	⚠️ Relatively stable with severe resentment over stolen pump fuel.	Worrying tending to Critical (Red)
Al Mansoura	🔴 Critical: Al Mansoura station generation dropped to 40 MW.	🔴 Total structural ruin of Kuz Mart complex due to fire.	🔴 Out of Control: Overwhelming resentment and suppressed anger at civil defense inability.	Highly Critical (Red)
Al Tawahi	🔴 Critical: Total water outage for 4 days in “Al-Qalou’a” neighborhood.	⚠️ Dangling and exposed electrical wires threatening pedestrians.	🔴 Out of Control: Overwhelming popular anger and demands to dismiss the government.	Critical (Red)
Sheikh Othman	⚠️ Poor operation of water, sanitation, and transportation networks.	⚠️ Suffocating traffic chaos at Cairo roundabout and street stalls.	🔴 Out of Control: Suspicious fear and total loss of trust in security after the escape of the Al-Mamdara rapist.	Critical (Red)
Khor Maksar	⚠️ Partial operation and shortcomings at Al-Jumhouriya Hospital and Water/Electricity corporations.	🔴 Total lack of lighting and deep potholes on the Marine Road (Bridge Road).	⚠️ Worrying: Protests and road closures at night condemning services.	Worrying (Yellow)
Al Mualla	⚠️ Intermittent water pumping (once every 5 days for 8 hours).	⚠️ Severe negative repercussion of water scarcity on bakery sales drop.	⚠️ Worrying: Removal and lowering of Southern flags and anger over moral videos.	Worrying (Yellow)
Al Buraiqeh	🟢 Institutions, police, and hospital working normally.	⚠️ Animal waste, Eid garbage accumulation, and dangling cables.	⚠️ Worrying: Angry female demonstrations to secure domestic gas.	Worrying (Yellow)
Sira	⚠️ Harsh electricity outages affecting shop operations.	⚠️ Weak public maintenance and decline in environmental services.	⚠️ Worrying: Severe living resentment over parallel prices.	Worrying (Yellow)

Urgent Recommendations for Relevant Authorities (Response Roadmap)

Based on the critical field and social indicators recorded by the male and female volunteers of the “Radar Aden” platform in the second half of May, we present the following package of immediate interventions to decision-makers to rectify the situation:

1. To the Supreme Security Committee and Aden Security Administration (Law Enforcement and Combating Impunity)

Form an Independent Judicial Investigative Committee: To immediately investigate the “institutional scandal” track and the smuggling of rape suspects from police stations and Al Mansoura prison, and suspend and hold accountable the security commanders involved in covering up and facilitating the perpetrators’ escape.
Immediate Cancellation of Malicious Prosecutions: Withdraw and cancel the coercive arrest warrants issued against activists and human rights defenders (most notably Adel Al-Hasani) who exposed the moral crimes, and secure full protection for whistleblowers and witnesses to bolster the prestige of the law and community trust in the system.
Secure and Protect International Headquarters: Intensify disciplined security guarding around diplomatic and humanitarian facilities and missions (especially the ICRC headquarters) to ensure a safe working environment preventing organizations from being forced to work from home.

2. To the Ministry of Public Works and Highways and Local Authority (Traffic and Urban Safety)

Urgent Action to Repair the “Bridge Road” (Marine Road): Immediately commence maintenance and repair of deep potholes scattered on the highway, provide it with adequate nighttime lighting, and install concrete barriers and central dividers to prevent fatal head-on collisions and protect drivers’ lives.
Equip and Restructure Civil Defense: Urgently address the structural crisis of firefighting teams by withdrawing dilapidated equipment, replacing “punctured water hoses,” and providing financial support and modern machinery to prevent the repetition of tragicomic scenes like the Kuz Mart complex fire.

3. To the Ministry of Electricity and the Local Water Corporation (Repairing the Collapse of Service Lines)

Improve the Oversight Mechanism on Supply Allocations and Combat Corruption: Impose strict administrative and security oversight on sewage pump administrations and water stations (particularly in Dar Saad district) to prevent the loss of diesel fuel allocated for operation, and hold those involved immediately accountable to stop catastrophic sewage overflows in the streets.
Repair Al Tawahi Water Networks and Ensure Fair Pumping: Expedite technical deployment to repair the broken water pipe in Al-Qalou’a neighborhood to ensure the return of pumping to citizens affected by outages lasting several days.

4. To the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Living and Supply Security)

Strict Commitment to Regular Salary Disbursements: Oblige financial entities to disburse public sector employee salaries and dues without any delay, and avoid repeating the deprivation of these before holidays and vacations to prevent markets from suffering commercial paralysis.
Activate Supply Oversight and Relief Programs: Launch strict commercial oversight campaigns to control food prices and combat commodity hoarding in the parallel market, alongside launching emergency and organized subsidized food basket programs for the poorest families to avert the chronic malnutrition risk forcibly threatening children.