Radar Aden | رادار عدن

Ninth Edition | Report Date: (8/01 – 8/15) First Half of August 2026
Geographical Scope: The Capital, Aden (Sheikh Othman, Al Mansoura, Al Mualla, Khormaksar, Al Buraiqeh, Dar Saad, Seera, Al Tawahi)

Field Report Summary

Overview

The first half of August 2026 saw an unprecedented mix of external security threat and internal service collapse in the capital, Aden, led by a marked escalation in near-daily incursions by Houthi reconnaissance drones into the city’s airspace, alongside the first intensive use of attack drones by the Giants Brigades, the Southern forces and the National Army in response. This has put residents of Bir Ahmed, Maashiq, Al-Luhoom and the Abyan coast in particular in a state of constant apprehension, accompanied by the near-daily sound of anti-aircraft fire at dawn. This threat coincided with an unprecedented domestic gas crisis, the worst in more than ten years, as gas supply to Aden stopped completely for at least one day during the period, and on another day only four tankers entered for major operators.

This deepened a crisis that has persisted for nearly a year, pushing cylinder prices up to 30,000 rial against an official price of 9,000 rial (subsidized to 7,500 rial), which fed through to the prices of popular meals and to the public transport sector, most of which runs on gas.

Politically, Mansoura district saw three consecutive protest events framed by the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC) and southern labor unions and federations (a civil disobedience action on August 8, a solidarity sit-in in front of Mansoura Central Prison on August 9 demanding the release of detainee Moeen Al-Muqrahi, and a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Electricity on August 13), alongside an official, well-attended youth event in Sheikh Othman for Youth Day. Notably, all these events ended entirely peacefully with no friction or security intervention — a positive indicator worth recording despite the ongoing service and political demands they carried. By contrast, concerning indicators continued: old personal disputes and feuds turned into armed clashes and the throwing of offensive hand grenades in several Sheikh Othman neighborhoods (Al-Mahareeq, Kod Al-Othmani, behind Al-Nour Mosque, Al-Mamdara, Hosh Dirham), and a worsening salary crisis for Fourth Military Region soldiers who have been unable to obtain their personal ID cards and so have been denied their March and April salaries, held back by order of the Minister of Defense, amid near-daily protests in front of the Ministry of Defense’s finance office.

On services, no substantial improvement was recorded in the water crisis in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman, now described as having been “cut off for years,” while Al-Mualla district saw sewage flooding amid an acute diesel-fuel shortage. By contrast, this period carries a notable success story: the near-complete resolution of the sewage-overflow problem in Mansoura after more than 26 years of suffering, alongside the continuation of the solar-lighting project in Buraiqa, the arrival of the first batch of generators from Gulf Energy Company (100 MW capacity) ahead of a new power station coming online within two to three months, a successful security campaign to control unlicensed weapons at the Al-Kiraa market in Dar Saad that was welcomed by residents, and a health sector operating at full capacity in Khor Maksar across its four hospitals.

Economically, the period recorded a relative decline in vegetable and fruit prices of between 5% and 13%, and a notable drop in chicken and egg prices in several districts (Al-Mualla and Mansoura in particular) due to the “al-Tayyibat” distribution system, against a sharp rise in fish prices due to the windy season and diesel shortages, and the aforementioned suffocating gas crisis. On banking, the Central Bank ordered a halt to dealings with six exchange companies, amid relatively improved confidence in the efforts of American and Jordanian experts to reform Central Bank policy. Socially, indicators emerged of rising popular rejection of the dissolved STC in some neighborhoods (a case of a landlord evicting a tenant who had hung a photo of al-Zubaidi in his sitting room) accompanied by the return of some displaced families to their areas of origin, against continued talk of reverse displacement from Aden in other districts, amid recurring popular phrases summing up the state of anxiety and livelihood exhaustion.

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

Impact of Previous Reports (A Success Story for the “Radar Aden” Platform)

From Field Monitoring to Institutional Response

This edition documents the continued conversion of “Radar Aden”’s field monitoring into tangible institutional responses, most notably the completion of the Mansoura success story that began in the Seventh Report and was followed up in the Eighth Report regarding the sewage stations, alongside new response indicators across several sectors:

• Near-complete resolution of the sewage crisis in Mansoura: Residents reported that the sewage-overflow problem the district had suffered from for more than 26 years has been resolved and drainage points rebuilt, in direct continuation of the efforts of Mansoura district director Sheikh Hani al-Yazidi documented in the Seventh and Eighth Reports, with some residents cautioning that the sustainability of this achievement is tied to the director remaining in his post.
• Continuation of the solar-lighting project in Buraiqa: Public solar-lighting projects continued to be rolled out in Buraiqa amid notable efforts by district director Al-Dawoudi, continuing the solar-lighting indicator recorded in the Eighth Report.
• Arrival of the first batch of Gulf Energy Company generators: The company’s first batch of generators arrived as part of preparing a new power station with a capacity of 100 MW, expected to come online within two to three months.
• Successful security campaign at the Al-Kiraa market (Dar Saad): On August 4, Military Police forces carried out a campaign to prevent the carrying of unlicensed weapons at the Al-Kiraa market, with no altercations recorded, amid positive engagement and a welcome from residents.
• Proactive restoration of Abda Fadel School (Dar Saad): The school’s wall, one of the district’s oldest, was rebuilt ahead of the start of the new school year, continuing the pattern of proactive maintenance recorded in the Eighth Report.
• A health sector operating at full capacity in Khor Maksar: The field assessment reported that the Republic Hospital (Aden 1), the Khor Maksar Health Complex, the Al-Areesh Health Center and Aden General Hospital are all operating “normally and fully” — the best institutional indicator recorded in this edition.
• The Hashed Health Complex in Mansoura operating around the clock: The field assessment reported that the complex is fully operational across emergency and outpatient services, alongside a maternity ward that operates 24 hours a day.
• The Youth Day event in Sheikh Othman: The Ministry of Youth and Sports organized a well-attended event at the covered sports hall with hundreds of young participants and demonstrations in boxing, karate, football and judo, attended by governorate and ministry deputies and parents, and it ended entirely peacefully. In a related development, during the “Private Sector Vision for Youth Skills Development” forum held by the Businessmen’s Club for the same occasion, Aden Deputy Governor Abdul Raouf Al-Saqqaf announced on World Youth Day that the local authority would provide 17,000 job opportunities.
• Partial positive economic indicators: Vegetable and fruit prices fell by between 5% and 13%, and chicken and egg prices dropped notably in Al-Mualla and Mansoura, alongside positive banking engagement with the efforts of American and Jordanian experts to reform Central Bank policy.
• Security action on assault cases: Mansoura volunteers reported residents’ relief at security forces apprehending a number of suspects in kidnapping and sexual-assault cases, and at no gunfire-at-weddings incidents being recorded during the period.
• Preventive health measures: A fogging campaign against disease-carrying insects was carried out in Al Tawahi district as part of seasonal preventive measures.

Despite these multiple indicators, the platform remains committed to monitoring the actual impact of these responses on the level of service provided to citizens, especially as some of them remain fragile or tied to specific individuals (as with some Mansoura residents’ reservations about the sustainability of the sewage achievement), compared to the scale of the crises extending across other districts.

Key Challenges and Field Indicators

1. The Drone Threat and Scattered Security Breakdown

• Near-daily incursions by Houthi reconnaissance drones into Aden’s airspace, with inadequate ground air-defenses in Bir Ahmed, Maashiq, Al-Luhoom and the Abyan coast, and residential buildings located close to sensitive facilities (the airport, military camps, ports).
• The first intensive use of attack drones by the Giants Brigades, the Southern forces and the National Army in response to the incursions, which heightened rather than eased residents’ sense of danger.
• Near-daily sounds of anti-aircraft fire in Bir Ahmed between 3:30 and 5:00 a.m. throughout the week, alongside talk of a new “Fursan Revolution.”
• Accompanying panic behaviors in the community: random panic-buying, increased qat purchases, and a worrying increase in demand for illicit sedative pills.

2. Service Collapse and Public Safety

• Continued near-total water cutoff in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman, now described as having been “cut off for years,” with water arriving rarely and sometimes mixed with sewage.
• An unprecedented domestic gas crisis, the worst in more than ten years: a full day with no gas tankers entering Aden, and another day with only 4 tankers entering for major operators, with cylinder prices rising to 30,000 rial against an official price of 9,000 rial (7,500 rial for subsidized household use), feeding through to popular-meal prices and the public transport sector.
• Sewage flooding in Al-Mualla district amid an acute shortage of the diesel fuel needed to run pumping stations.
• Electricity outages stabilizing at around 8 hours against two hours of evening supply in several districts, with clear disparities; Al-Mualla recorded the best relative indicator (3–4 hours of supply against 3–4 hours of outage).
• Countervailing positive indicators: continuous water pumping in Dar Saad (the 7 October neighborhood), Buraiqa (Bir Ahmed) and the Omar al-Mukhtar neighborhood of Sheikh Othman, and gas relatively easy to obtain in Bir Ahmed unlike other areas.

3. Security and Political Developments

• Old personal disputes and feuds resurfaced in Sheikh Othman and escalated into armed clashes and the throwing of offensive hand grenades in Al-Mahareeq, Kod Al-Othmani, behind Al-Nour Mosque, Al-Mamdara and Hosh Dirham, with arrests recorded.
• Three consecutive peaceful protest events in Mansoura (a civil disobedience action on August 8; a solidarity sit-in with detainee Moeen Al-Muqrahi — accused in the storming of the Aden Al-Ghad newspaper incident — on August 9; and a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Electricity on August 13), all of which ended without friction or security intervention.
• A failed attempt at civil disobedience in Sheikh Othman (Al-Mamdara), called for by the dissolved STC under the banner of rejecting the “services war,” but it failed to achieve any notable level of compliance.
• A worsening salary crisis for Fourth Military Region soldiers unable to obtain their personal ID cards, denying them their March and April salaries held back by order of the Minister of Defense, with near-daily protests in front of the Ministry of Defense’s finance office.
• A positive indicator of the retreat of old political symbols: the removal of former leaders’ photos in the Omar al-Mukhtar neighborhood of Sheikh Othman without any notable friction.
• The spread of “Pregabalin” drug trafficking in an almost open manner, amid widespread doubts about the effectiveness of the security services after photos circulated of a shipment believed to have been seized in Libya being presented as seized in Aden, and notable judicial leniency (actual sentences not exceeding 3 years for trafficking and 6 months for use, against a legal penalty that can reach the death sentence).
• A traffic accident on the coastal road between the Caltex and Aden Hotel roundabouts (August 16) between a vegetable truck and a car, causing material damage and traffic congestion with no serious injuries.

4. Economic Situation and Food Security

• Vegetable and fruit prices fell by 5% to 13%, with a notable drop in chicken and egg prices specifically in Al-Mualla and Mansoura under the distribution system (the price of local chicken in Mansoura fell from 8,000 to 5,000–7,000 rial).
• A sharp rise in fish prices due to the windy season and diesel-fuel shortages, with sharp disparities between districts.
• The suffocating gas crisis fed through to the prices of popular restaurant meals (a plate of asida exceeded 1,500–1,700 rial, and a portion of rice reached 1,500 rial) and to the public transport sector, most of which runs on gas, with transport fares in Buraiqa rising to 600–700 rial per passenger.
• A communications crisis in Bir Ahmed, Buraiqa: internet top-up cards unavailable for more than a week, a notable weakening of the “AdenNet” network beyond the usual, alongside vegetable and fruit prices there running 1,000–2,000 rial higher than the rest of Aden.
• The Central Bank ordered a halt to dealings with six exchange companies (Al-Haddad, Al-Shuaibi, Fajr Express Est., Khaleej Aden Est., Zamira Express, Abu Bakr), against relatively positive banking engagement with the efforts of American and Jordanian experts to reform Central Bank policy.
• Relative overall exchange-rate stability (the dollar at 1,558–1,573 rial, the Saudi riyal at 410–413 rial).
• Private schools mostly refusing to lower fees raised by 20% to 50%, amid hints from the Southern Teachers’ Union of resuming a strike in government schools, and verbal tension between parents and teachers.
• Economic closures in Inma: Al-Deek restaurant and several other restaurants due to rising rents, and Taiba Charitable Hospital — the sole healthcare provider in the town — due to its inability to cover operating costs, particularly fuel, alongside dozens of small and micro enterprises going bankrupt across Aden.

5. Public Mood and Popular Protests

• Continued talk of reverse displacement (leaving Aden) in Sheikh Othman (Al-Mamdara) and Mansoura (Al-Kathiri), against a countervailing indicator of rising popular rejection of the dissolved STC in other neighborhoods (a case of a landlord evicting a tenant who had hung a photo of al-Zubaidi), and the associated return of some displaced families to their original southern areas.
• A notable disparity in how the security situation is described, sometimes even between volunteers in the same district: described as “out of control” in the Embassies neighborhood of Khor Maksar despite a calm description of the same situation on the ground, and as “reassured” in Mansoura despite the documentation of three consecutive protest events there during the same period — reflecting a genuine disparity in risk perception between neighborhoods that merits monitoring.
• Positive indicators for public mood: widespread relief in Mansoura at no kidnapping or rape stories being recorded during the period, at no gunfire being heard at weddings, and appreciation for the tree-planting campaign led by the district director.
• Recurring phrases summing up the state of exhaustion: “Electricity and water have killed the people,” “When will salaries be paid.. when will electricity improve,” “Great despair among the people over electricity, salaries and gas,” “The country is on a knife’s edge.. God protect Aden from what’s coming,” against a more hopeful phrase repeated in Al Tawahi: “We want our most basic rights in Aden.”
• A tragic human story: a fire engulfed an apartment in the Al-Madina Al-Baida neighborhood; resident Majdi Jamal rushed in to rescue two women and his young son Hamza from a neighboring apartment, but Hamza suffered third-degree burns that cost him his eyesight before he died days later on August 8, in an incident that drew widespread sympathy while highlighting an act of individual heroism.
• The suicide of young Ibrahim Al-Kaf, accused of harassing a girl in Inma, by drowning himself in a toilet at the Inma police station jail, alongside scattered calls for a new “Fursan Revolution” in Aden.

Response Roadmap (Key Urgent Recommendations)

Based on the field indicators documented during the period (August 1–15, 2026), the “Radar Aden” platform recommends urgent action along the following tracks:

1. Security and Legal Track

• An urgent investigation into the Kod Al-Othmani and Al-Mahareeq clashes (Sheikh Othman), which stemmed from personal disputes and involved offensive hand grenades, and holding those involved accountable and confiscating the offensive weapons used.
• Reinforcing ground air-defenses in Bir Ahmed, Maashiq, Al-Luhoom and the Abyan coast, and issuing a clear protocol for dealing with drone incursions that reduces public panic.
• A serious review of judicial sentencing policy on drug-trafficking (Pregabalin) cases to deter the escalating phenomenon, and a transparent investigation into the disputed shipment-seizure incident.
• Replicating the successful Al-Kiraa market security campaign (Dar Saad) at other markets across Aden to control unlicensed weapons.

2. Service Track

• Urgently addressing the near-total water crisis in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman before it worsens further.
• Regulating the domestic gas market through an official clarification of the causes of the supply cutoff and an emergency mechanism to ensure a regular flow of tankers, and holding price manipulators accountable.
• Supplying pumping stations in Al-Mualla with diesel fuel to stop the sewage flooding, and replicating the Mansoura sewage-crisis resolution model in other districts.
• Accelerating the commissioning of Gulf Energy Company’s generators (100 MW) and completing and expanding the solar-lighting project in Buraiqa.

3. Economic and Livelihood Track

• Accelerating the disbursement of the withheld March and April salaries for Fourth Military Region soldiers, and easing the procedures and reducing the fees for obtaining personal ID cards.
• Investigating the continued sharp rise in fish prices and addressing its causes related to the windy season and diesel-fuel shortages.
• Supporting the health sector in Inma after the closure of Taiba Charitable Hospital — the town’s sole care provider — and reviewing licensing and rental policy for small enterprises to halt the wave of closures.
• A transparent review of the distribution of the King Salman relief-center shipment (13 tankers, 4,680 food baskets) to dispel citizens’ suspicions of favoritism toward particular support bases.

4. Political and Social Track

• Opening mediation channels to de-escalate the verbal tension between parents and the Southern Teachers’ Union before the dispute slides into an actual strike that harms the new school year.
• Ensuring the continuity of successful administrative leaders (such as the Mansoura district director) to avoid the erosion of service achievements tied to specific individuals.
• Providing psychosocial follow-up for the impact of recurring ground air-defense fire on the residents of Bir Ahmed and Maashiq, especially children.

Detailed Report

Introduction

The “Radar Aden” platform continues to monitor and document the capital Aden’s interactions with its interlinked crises, presenting in this Ninth Edition a picture of the first half of August 2026 — a period that combined an escalating external security threat, in the form of near-daily incursions by Houthi reconnaissance drones and an unprecedented domestic gas crisis, the worst in more than ten years, on one hand, with intensive but entirely peaceful popular protest activity in Mansoura, in the form of three consecutive events during which no friction was recorded, on the other. The period saw no improvement in the acute water crisis in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman; rather, it worsened to the point of being described as “cut off for years,” against a continuing success story in the near-complete resolution of the sewage crisis that had persisted in Mansoura for more than 26 years.

On security, the period recorded old personal disputes that escalated into an exchange of offensive hand-grenade attacks in several Sheikh Othman neighborhoods, a worsening salary crisis for thousands of Fourth Military Region soldiers, and an almost open spread of Pregabalin drug trafficking amid doubts about the effectiveness of the security services. Economically, vegetable and poultry price indicators improved relatively in some districts, while the gas and fish crises worsened. Socially, conflicting indicators emerged between rising popular rejection of the dissolved STC in some neighborhoods and continued talk of reverse displacement in others, amid a tragic human story of a child’s death from burns sustained in a house fire after being rescued by a neighbor from another apartment.

As with previous editions, this edition relies on documented field assessment through the eyes of Youth Committee volunteers using three integrated monitoring forms (general assessment, popular-mood monitoring, and event and activity documentation), alongside daily follow-up of security, political and economic developments in the capital, achieving the principle of triangulated verification and limiting the impact of circulating rumors.

Impact of Previous Reports (A Success Story for the “Radar Aden” Platform)

From Field Monitoring to Institutional Response

Continuing “Radar Aden”’s approach of converting field assessment data into tangible institutional responses, this edition documents a further series of indicators of monitoring translating into action:

1. Near-Complete Resolution of the Long-Running Sewage Crisis in Mansoura (26 Years)

In direct continuation of the success story documented in the Seventh and Eighth Reports regarding the efforts of Mansoura district director Sheikh Hani al-Yazidi, residents reported that the sewage-overflow problem the district had suffered from for more than 26 years has been resolved and drainage points rebuilt, expressing widespread relief. However, some residents cautioned that the continuity of this achievement is contingent on the director remaining in his post, and that any administrative change could return the district to “square one” — which calls on the platform to monitor the sustainability of this success as an institutional measure rather than a personal effort.

2. Continuation of the Solar-Lighting Project and Arrival of New Generators for Al-Hiswa

The rollout of public solar-lighting projects continued in Buraiqa district, amid notable efforts led by district director Al-Dawoudi, continuing an indicator recorded in the Eighth Report. The first batch of Gulf Energy Company generators also arrived as part of preparing a new power station with a capacity of 100 MW, expected to come online within two to three months — which, if realized, could represent a meaningful addition to the capital’s electricity system.

3. Successful Security Campaign to Control Weapons at the Al-Kiraa Market (Dar Saad)

On August 4, 2026, Military Police forces carried out a security campaign at the Al-Kiraa market in Dar Saad district to prevent the carrying of unlicensed weapons, with dozens of personnel and 4 to 6 vehicles taking part, running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with no altercations or clashes recorded, amid clear positive engagement and a welcome from residents, with the security presence continuing to address similar violations.

4. Proactive Restoration of Abda Fadel School and an Integrated Health Sector in Khor Maksar

The wall of Abda Fadel School, one of the oldest schools in Dar Saad, was rebuilt ahead of the start of the new school year, continuing the pattern of proactive school maintenance first recorded in the Eighth Report. In Khor Maksar, the field assessment reported that four major health institutions (Republic Hospital Aden 1, the Khor Maksar Health Complex, the Al-Areesh Health Center, Aden General Hospital) are all operating “normally and fully” — by far the best institutional indicator recorded in this edition. The assessment also reported that the Hashed Health Complex in Mansoura is operating at full capacity around the clock, with a permanently operating maternity ward.

5. Youth Day Events and the Pledge of 17,000 Jobs

The Ministry of Youth and Sports organized a “Youth Day” event at the covered sports hall in Sheikh Othman, with hundreds of young participants and 6 coaster buses and 8 vehicles present, including demonstrations in boxing, karate, football and judo, attended by governorate and ministry deputies, parents and club fans, and the event ended entirely peacefully. During the “Private Sector Vision for Youth Skills Development” forum held by the Businessmen’s Club to mark the same occasion, Aden Deputy Governor Abdul Raouf Al-Saqqaf announced that the local authority would provide 17,000 job opportunities — a pledge the platform is committed to following up on in upcoming editions.

6. Additional Positive Indicators

• Vegetable and fruit prices fell by 5% to 13%, with a notable drop in chicken and egg prices in Al-Mualla and Mansoura due to the “al-Tayyibat” distribution system.
• Widespread relief in Mansoura at no kidnapping or rape stories being recorded during the period and no gunfire being heard at weddings, alongside positive engagement with security forces apprehending a number of suspects in kidnapping and sexual-assault cases.
• Popular appreciation for the tree-planting campaign led by the Mansoura district director, seen as a step that improves the district’s overall appearance.
• A fogging campaign against disease-carrying insects was carried out in Al Tawahi district as part of seasonal preventive measures.
• Relatively positive banking engagement with the efforts of American and Jordanian experts to reform Central Bank policy, amid relative exchange-rate stability.

Despite these multiple indicators, the platform remains committed to monitoring the actual impact of these responses on the level of service provided to citizens, especially as some of them remain fragile or tied to specific individuals, compared to the scale of the crises extending across other districts and areas such as Inma and Sheikh Othman.

First: Basic Services and Public Institutions Sector (Extended Water Crisis and Scattered Maintenance Indicators)

The services sector faced an unprecedented gas crisis during the first half of August alongside a continuing acute water crisis in Sheikh Othman, against indicators of partial improvement in Mansoura (sewage), Buraiqa (lighting) and Khor Maksar (the health sector).

1. The Unprecedented Gas Crisis, and Electricity and Fuel

• For the first time in more than ten years, gas supply to Aden stopped completely for one full day during the report period, and on another day only 4 tankers entered for major operators, creating an acute food-supply crisis for restaurants forced to buy gas cylinders at prices reaching 30,000 rial instead of the commercial price of 18,000 rial.
• The gas crisis fed through to popular-restaurant prices, with a plate of traditional asida exceeding 1,500–1,700 rial and a portion of rice reaching 1,500 rial, prices close to those of tourist restaurants, with expectations of further price increases.
• Public life was partially disrupted due to the difficulty of transport resulting from the gas crisis, since most public transport vehicles run on it; in Buraiqa specifically, transport fares (per passenger) rose to 600–700 rial.
• Some field-level forces affiliated with the dissolved STC exploited the delayed opening of shops (now often opening after 9 a.m. because of the transport crisis and the difficulty of sleeping at night without electricity) to promote the idea of a daytime “general strike.”
• Electricity: outages stabilized at around 8 hours against two hours of evening supply in several districts, with the best relative indicator in Al-Mualla (3–4 hours of supply against 3–4 hours of outage), and the worst in Mansoura and Khor Maksar (outages reaching 8–9 hours).
• The first batch of Gulf Energy Company generators (100 MW) arrived for a new power station expected to be commissioned within two to three months, and the rollout of solar-lighting projects continued in Buraiqa under the efforts of district director Al-Dawoudi.

2. Deterioration of Water and Sanitation

• The water crisis in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman worsened to the point of being described as “cut off for years,” with water arriving rarely and sometimes mixed with sewage.
• In Mansoura, there are no fixed pumping hours for water, as it is tied to electricity supply, and it may not arrive for two days or more in some neighborhoods.
• Sewage flooding in Al-Mualla district amid an acute shortage of the diesel fuel needed to run pumping stations.
• Near-complete resolution of the long-running sewage crisis in Mansoura, extending back more than 26 years, with drainage points rebuilt (success story documented above).
• Relatively positive water indicators: continuous pumping in Dar Saad (the 7 October neighborhood), Buraiqa (Bir Ahmed) and the Omar al-Mukhtar neighborhood of Sheikh Othman; and relatively limited outages in Khor Maksar (2–3 days) and Al-Mualla (every 5 days) compared to the Abdullah Ghanim crisis.

3. Infrastructure and Public Safety Risks

• Continued spread of exposed and dangling electrical wires in several districts (Sheikh Othman, Al Tawahi, Buraiqa), sewage overflow and deep unguarded pits (Mansoura, Buraiqa), and accumulated construction debris and garbage (in nearly all districts).
• Pits covered with old tires in the Remi neighborhood of Mansoura, posing a danger to pedestrians and reflecting weak infrastructure maintenance.
• A traffic accident on the coastal road between the Caltex and Aden Hotel roundabouts (August 16) between a vegetable truck and another car, scattering vegetables and shattering the vehicle’s glass and causing traffic congestion involving more than 30 cars, with passersby sympathetic despite their frustration at being delayed for work.
• A house fire in the Al-Madina Al-Baida neighborhood engulfed a residential apartment, and — despite a heroic rescue — led to the death of the child Hamza from third-degree burns days later on August 8 (details of the human story below).

4. Status of Public Institutions

The field assessment showed clear variation in the performance of public institutions between districts. In Khor Maksar, the best institutional performance in this edition was recorded: Republic Hospital (Aden 1), the Khor Maksar Health Complex, the Al-Areesh Health Center and Aden General Hospital are all operating normally and fully. In Mansoura, the Hashed Health Complex operates at full capacity around the clock with a permanent maternity ward, while Mansoura Court and the electricity office operate normally, and the Al-Qahira post office operates only partially. In Sheikh Othman, the Kod Al-Othmani and Sheikh Othman health complexes suffer an acute shortage of medical staff and supplies (partial operation), while Al-Sadaqa Teaching Hospital operates normally and the Public Electricity Corporation operates partially. In Dar Saad, the wall of Abda Fadel School was proactively rebuilt ahead of the start of the school year. In Al Tawahi, the electricity corporation operates normally, while Muhairez and Al-Rawda schools operate on limited hours dedicated to registering students for the new school year. In Al-Mualla, the Environment Office operates on Thursdays and the Yemen Petroleum Company operates normally.

Second: Security and Political Dynamics

This period combined an escalating external security threat (Houthi drone incursions) with intensive but entirely peaceful internal popular protest activity in Mansoura, alongside personal disputes that turned into armed clashes in Sheikh Othman and a worsening military salary crisis.

1. The Escalation of Houthi Drone Incursions and Their Psychological Impact

The period saw growing military threats represented by the incursion of Houthi reconnaissance drones into Aden’s airspace on a continuous basis, with hardly a day passing without one being recorded. While ground air-defenses respond to these incursions without sufficient effectiveness in Bir Ahmed, Maashiq, Al-Luhoom and the Abyan coast, residents’ sense of danger is rising, especially given residential buildings located near sensitive facilities such as the airport, military camps and ports. This sense was reinforced by the first intensive use of attack drones by units of the Giants Brigades, the Southern forces and the National Army in response to the incursions. Volunteers in Buraiqa reported hearing near-daily anti-aircraft fire between 3:30 and 5:00 a.m. throughout the week around Bir Ahmed, alongside talk of a new “Fursan Revolution.” This state of terror produced notable community behaviors, including increased random panic-buying, increased qat purchases, and a worrying rise in demand for illicit sedative pills.

2. Personal Disputes Turning Into Armed Clashes in Sheikh Othman

A fight broke out around 10 p.m. and escalated into a verbal altercation between two parties in Kod Al-Othmani; an hour after the fight was broken up, one party threw an offensive hand grenade at the other, causing those present to flee, and the incident recurred the next day at the same time. Arrests were recorded in connection with the incident. Another volunteer reported that old altercations and personal disputes resurfaced between individuals and escalated into settling of scores and armed clashes reaching the point of throwing offensive grenades in several Sheikh Othman neighborhoods: Al-Mahareeq, Kod Al-Othmani, behind Al-Nour Mosque, the Al-Mamdara area and the Hosh Dirham area, with the volunteer explicitly calling for a solution to this escalating phenomenon.

3. Three Consecutive Peaceful Protest Events in Mansoura

Mansoura led the protest scene during the period with three consecutive events, none of which saw any friction or security intervention:

• Peaceful civil disobedience (August 8, lasting two weeks): Carried out in response to a call by southern labor unions and federations and in support of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, from 7 to 10 a.m., with an initial compliance rate of about 70% due to road closures, which gradually declined over subsequent days. It involved the closure of a number of shops and markets, with the exception of hospitals, pharmacies, ambulances, and water and electricity emergency-maintenance crews. It came to express rejection of external interference and demand improved basic services, an end to currency depreciation, and payment of delayed salaries. Roads that had been blocked were reopened by police in the early days without any altercations.
• Solidarity sit-in in front of Mansoura Central Prison (August 9): Attended by about 500 people and 5 civilian vehicles, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., demanding the immediate and unconditional release of detainee Moeen Al-Muqrahi — held for 40 days without legal basis — with southern flags and photos of the detainee raised, and with the backing of the STC’s Executive Body for Local Leadership in Aden. The crossing road to Block 4 and Al-Salam roundabout was closed for an hour and a half then reopened without any altercations.
• Sit-in in front of the Ministry of Electricity (August 13): Attended by 300 to 400 people, from 8 to 9 a.m., during which participants raised banners demanding an immediate response to citizens’ demands and improved services after long power outages, water shortages and the absence of gas, alongside southern flags. The event ended within one hour with no altercation or security intervention.

4. A Failed Attempt at Civil Disobedience in Sheikh Othman

The dissolved Southern Transitional Council called for civil disobedience in Al-Mamdara under the banner of rejecting the “services war” and guardianship, running from 6:05 to 10:05 a.m. with fewer than 100 participants and no vehicles present; however, the action “failed” to achieve any notable level of compliance according to the field volunteer’s account, unlike its counterpart in Mansoura, which achieved an initial compliance rate of 70%.

5. The Official Youth Day Event in Sheikh Othman

The Ministry of Youth and Sports organized the “Youth Day” event at the covered sports hall in Sheikh Othman, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., with hundreds of young participants and 6 coaster buses and 8 vehicles present, under the slogan “Long Live Youth,” including demonstrations in boxing, karate, football and judo, attended by governorate and ministry deputies, parents and club fans, and the event ended entirely peacefully.

6. The Fourth Military Region Salary Crisis and Protests at the Ministry of Defense Finance Office

National Army soldiers who have been unable to obtain their personal ID cards remain denied their March and April salaries, held back by order of the Minister of Defense, deepening their anger, with near-daily protest sit-ins recorded in front of the Ministry of Defense’s finance office. One soldier expressed his frustration, saying: “We fought for legitimacy against the Transitional coup, and my salary of 50,000 barely buys flour for my children, yet we are denied our salary because I cannot afford to obtain a personal ID card whose fee exceeds my salary, while Transitional forces are given salaries in Saudi riyals.”

7. Drug Proliferation and Judicial Leniency

A notable increase was recorded in the spread of “Pregabalin” pill trafficking, with drug gangs now operating in an almost open manner. Despite daily arrest campaigns against drug dealers, users and pushers, some doubt the effectiveness of the security services, after they recently circulated photos of a shipment believed to have been seized in Libya, presented as having been seized in Aden. One reason for the spread of drugs is the leniency practiced by the judicial authorities; despite the severity of Yemeni law, which mandates the death penalty and 25 years’ imprisonment for trafficking, the maximum sentence actually handed down is 3 years for trafficking and six months for use, with judicial authorities justifying this by prison overcrowding.

8. Positive Indicators and Shifts in the Political Scene

• Removal of former political leaders’ photos in the Omar al-Mukhtar neighborhood of Sheikh Othman without any friction, an indicator of a relative retreat in the presence of old political symbols in some neighborhoods.
• A growing state of community rejection of the dissolved STC: one landlord reportedly evicted a tenant who had hung a photo of al-Zubaidi in his sitting room, an incident that — according to field observations — is contributing to the return of some previously displaced families from southern governorates and areas to their original areas.
• All protest and official events during the period (the Mansoura civil disobedience action, the solidarity sit-in, the electricity sit-in, the Youth Day event) ended peacefully with no injuries, arrests or violent security interventions, reflecting relative maturity in crowd management by both organizing parties and security services.

9. Miscellaneous Developments Worth Monitoring

• Conversion of the Unknown Soldier monument in Al Tawahi into a bus stop: The Al Tawahi district officer converted the site of the Unknown Soldier monument into a stop for buses and public transport, a step that sparked significant community resentment among district residents, who saw it as an affront to the monument’s symbolism.
• Congestion of travelers by sea to Somalia and Djibouti: A notable buildup of travelers via sea transport toward Somalia and Djibouti was recorded, following the Houthis’ targeting of the “Tahama” ferry, reflecting growing concern among some citizens about the usual sea-travel option and their search for alternative routes.

Third: Market Activity and Food/Livelihood Security Indicators

Aden’s families faced escalating livelihood pressures during the first half of August, led by the unprecedented gas crisis, with partial positive indicators in vegetable and poultry prices, and commercial activity marked by caution in most districts (50%–75% caution in Sheikh Othman, Dar Saad, Mansoura and Buraiqa, against relatively normal activity in Al-Mualla, Khor Maksar, Al Tawahi and partially in Dar Saad).

A notable relative decline was recorded in vegetable and fruit prices, ranging between 5% and 13%, and a notable drop in chicken and egg prices specifically in Al-Mualla and Mansoura, with the price of local chicken in Mansoura falling from 8,000 to between 5,000 and 7,000 rial due to public apprehension and adoption of the “al-Tayyibat” distribution system, while egg prices also fell in Al-Mualla. By contrast, the sharp rise in fish prices continued due to the windy season and diesel-fuel shortages, though the field assessment in Dar Saad recorded a relatively lower price for the “al-thamad” variety (8,000 rial) compared to the 16,000 rial recorded in the Eighth Report — a disparity that calls for further monitoring to determine whether it reflects localized improvement or the usual variation between districts.

The gas crisis was the most prominent economic and social issue; gas supply to Aden stopped completely for at least one day during the period, for the first time in more than ten years, and on another day only 4 tankers entered for major operators, raising cylinder prices to 30,000 rial against an official price of 18,000 rial, which fed directly through to popular-meal prices (a plate of asida exceeded 1,500–1,700 rial) and to public transport (fares in Buraiqa rose to 600–700 rial per passenger). The crisis also partially disrupted public life due to transport difficulties, and was exploited by some field-level forces loyal to the dissolved STC to promote the notion of a “general strike,” even though the actual cause was shops opening late due to the transport crisis and the difficulty of sleeping at night without electricity.

On banking, the Central Bank ordered a halt to dealings with six exchange companies (Al-Haddad, Al-Shuaibi, Fajr Express Est., Khaleej Aden Est., Zamira Express, Abu Bakr), at a time when banking sectors expressed appreciation for the efforts of American and Jordanian experts to reform Central Bank policy. Unconfirmed reports also circulated about the possible return of “Credit Agricole” (Calyon Bank) to operations in Yemen after it wound down its activities in 2012, and strong competition in the Yemeni market for French products, particularly the “Casino Group” brand. In Al Tawahi, relative exchange-rate stability was recorded (the dollar between 1,558 and 1,573 rial, the Saudi riyal between 410 and 413 rial).

On education, private schools mostly refused to lower school fees that had been raised by 20% to 50%, amid hints from the Southern Teachers’ Union of resuming a strike in government schools amid anger from some parents; one parent reportedly threatened a teacher, saying: “If you don’t work, we’ll come drag you to school by your mustache, you shameless man,” while others threatened to smash up schools and bring in volunteer teaching staff — reflecting the level of tension surrounding the education file ahead of the start of the new school year.

Economically as well, multiple closures were recorded specifically in Inma: Al-Deek restaurant and several other restaurants due to rising rents, and Taiba Charitable Hospital — the sole healthcare provider in the town — due to its inability to cover its operating costs, particularly fuel, alongside a decline in service quality at other hospitals such as the “German Hospital,” whose patrons complained of its shift from being the best investment hospital to a series of service failures and rising costs, and dozens of small and micro enterprises going bankrupt across Aden.

Separately, a food shipment provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center arrived, consisting of 13 tankers carrying 4,680 food baskets, though many citizens accused community committees of manipulating its distribution and continuing to allocate it to STC members and support bases in Aden, while other citizens denied these allegations — which calls for a transparent review of the distribution mechanism.

Fourth: Food Security Indicators and Rumors Table

1. Field-Monitored Price Indicators (in Yemeni Rials)

The following table is based on the price averages and ranges recorded by volunteers across the various districts during the period:

Item / Food Material	Average Price or Range (in YER)	Notes and Field Indicators
Chicken (kg/unit)	1,000 to 7,000	Notable drop in Mansoura and Al-Mualla; local chicken in Mansoura fell from 8,000 to 5,000–7,000
Qat (bundle)	6,000 to 30,000	Very sharp disparity between districts and types (qutul vs. samin)
Cooking oil (liter)	1,200 to 4,500	Wide variation by neighborhood, type and container size
Flour (50 kg)	25,000 to 38,000	Sharp disparity between districts
Rice (kg)	1,500 to 2,500	Relative stability within each individual district
Sugar (kg)	1,000 to 2,000	Moderate disparity
Bread (single loaf)	50 to 200	Relative stability in most districts
Fish (“al-thamad” variety)	8,000 up to 25,000 or more	Sharp general rise due to the windy season and diesel shortages, with sharp disparity between districts
Domestic gas cylinder	Up to 30,000 (against an official price of 7,500)	Unprecedented supply crisis, the worst in more than 10 years
Vegetables and fruit (general)	Down 5% – 13%	Positive general indicator during the period

2. Rumors and Psychological Impact Table

We confirm that what follows is classified as “unconfirmed news” subject to verification, and is included here solely to monitor public mood:

Rumor Type	Details of the Rumor	Extent of Public Belief
Security / military	An imminent outbreak of war in Aden and a gathering toward it, and the bombing of military sites and camps by drones	Relatively high belief amid widespread anxiety
Security	Aden and the south entering a war with Houthi militias, and northward displacement into Aden due to Houthi bombardment	Divided; recurs repeatedly in several districts
Service-related	The gas crisis continuing for a long period ahead and supply not returning to normal soon, possibly linked to an anticipated decision to raise the price of gas	High belief due to the continuing actual shortage and queues
Military	Payment of Defense and Interior Ministry salaries in Saudi riyals covering three months of arrears	Moderate belief
Security	Houthi militia control over Marib governorate	Moderate belief
Political	That Aidarus al-Zubaidi remains the de facto ruler behind the scenes, and that the current situation is a temporary phase and the south will return	High belief among supporters of the dissolved STC
Administrative	Visa issuance suspended for three months with no official confirmation of it reopening soon	Moderate belief
Administrative	Travelers from northern governorates wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia being required to process visa transactions through Aden instead of Sanaa	Moderate belief
Educational	Possible cancellation of this year’s general secondary certificate or its non-accreditation, with graduates directed toward university study in Aden	Moderate belief
Security	Suspension of salary payments and a general deterioration of the security situation in Aden	Moderate to high belief amid rising anxiety

Popular phrases summing up the state of anxiety and exhaustion were repeated, most notably: “Electricity and water have killed the people,” “When will salaries be paid.. when will electricity improve,” “Great despair among the people over electricity, salaries and gas,” “The country is on a knife’s edge.. God protect Aden from what’s coming,” against a more hopeful phrase repeated in Al Tawahi: “We want our most basic rights in Aden,” and an optimistic phrase in Mansoura expressing residents’ hope for the Houthis’ “retreat.”

Detailed Indicators by District

Based on the field indicators recorded, the following table shows the status of each district across three axes (services and infrastructure, safety and the urban environment, and public mood and the security situation), with an estimate of the overall status level   (🔴 Critical / ⚠️ Concerning / 🟢 Relatively Stable):

District	Services and Infrastructure	Safety and Urban Environment	General Mood and Security
Sheikh Othman (Critical)	🔴 Critical: Near-total water outage for years in Abdullah Ghanim; staff and medicine shortages at the Kod Al-Othmani and Sheikh Othman health complexes	🔴 Critical: Recurring offensive hand-grenade incidents (Al-Mahareeq, Kod Al-Othmani, Al-Mamdara, Hosh Dirham); arrests	🔴 Concerning: Anxious and tense; but old political symbols removed without friction, and a peaceful, successful Youth Day event
Mansoura  (Concerning, with a service success)	🟢 Stable: Near-complete resolution of the sewage crisis (26 years); Concerning: weak electricity (8–9-hour outages) and fluctuating water	⚠️ Concerning: Deep pits and garbage; Stable: a commendable tree-planting campaign; a traffic accident on August 16	⚠️ Concerning: Three peaceful protest events (civil disobedience, solidarity sit-in, electricity sit-in) without friction; Stable: relief at the absence of kidnapping/rape crimes
Al-Mualla (Concerning, with positives)	⚠️ Stable: best relative electricity indicator (3–4/3–4); Critical: sewage flooding amid diesel shortages; water cut every 5 days	🟢 Stable: no major visible hazards; general calm	🟢 Stable: reassured; political posters widespread without friction; chicken and egg prices falling
Khor Maksar (Mixed)	🟢 Stable: health sector operating at full capacity (4 institutions); water cut 2–3 days	🟢 Stable: no major visible hazards	⚠️ Concerning: sharp disparity: “anxious” in 14 October vs. “out of control” in the Embassies neighborhood despite an apparently calm situation; multiple rumors (visas, education)
Buraiqa (Concerning on security)	🟢 Stable: gas relatively easy to obtain; continuous water pumping; Concerning: strained communications and transport (600–700 rial per passenger)	🟢 Stable: successful security campaign at the Al-Kiraa market to control weapons without friction	🟢 Stable: reassured, with a welcoming attitude toward the local authority; discontent limited to gas and prices
Dar Saad (Relatively Stable)	🟢 Stable: relatively continuous water; proactive restoration of Abda Fadel School’s wall	⚠️ July 15 clashes over political photos (injuries and damage); attempted assault on a girl; drowning cases	⚠️ Anxiety and resentment toward the local authority and security forces
Seera (Relatively Stable)	🟢 Stable overall: water outages and weak supply in several neighborhoods due to unregulated construction; partial maintenance of sewage blockages; only one gas station in the district	🟢 Stable: a traffic campaign to remove obstacles and tackle disorder; no serious security incidents documented during the period	🟢 Stable: a field campaign to control price manipulators, with warnings issued to traders
Al Tawahi (Most Stable)	🟢 Concerning: fluctuating electricity (4–5-hour outages); weak water supply	🟢 Stable: a fogging campaign against insects	🟢 Stable: reassured, with a welcoming attitude toward security forces; relative exchange-rate stability; no reverse displacement

Urgent Recommendations for Relevant Authorities (Response Roadmap)

Based on the field and social indicators recorded by “Radar Aden” platform volunteers in the first half of August, we present the following package of immediate interventions to decision-makers across parallel response tracks:

1. To the Public Prosecution and Judiciary

• Open an urgent investigation into the Kod Al-Othmani and Al-Mahareeq clashes (personal disputes involving offensive hand grenades) and hold those involved from both sides accountable.
• Review sentencing policy on drug-trafficking cases to close the gap between the letter of the law (death penalty/25 years) and actual sentences (3 years), and investigate the disputed shipment-seizure incident.
• Conduct a transparent investigation into the circumstances of detainee Moeen Al-Muqrahi’s detention for 40 days without legal basis, and release him if there is insufficient evidence.
• Investigate the circumstances of young Ibrahim Al-Kaf’s suicide inside the Inma police station jail, and ensure safety standards inside detention facilities.

2. To the Ministry of Interior and Aden Security Leadership

• Replicate the successful Al-Kiraa market security campaign at other markets across Aden to control unlicensed weapons.
• Intensify campaigns against Pregabalin-trafficking gangs, and issue an official clarification on the disputed shipment-seizure incident to restore citizens’ trust.
• Provide balanced security for any upcoming protest or official events, following the successful management of Mansoura’s three events and the Youth Day event.
• Investigate the coastal-road traffic accident (August 16) and improve the organization of heavy-truck movement on congested roads.

3. To the Ministry of Defense

• Urgently release the withheld March and April salaries for Fourth Military Region soldiers, and separate the personal-ID-card file from the file of due salary payments.
• Reduce the fees for obtaining military personal ID cards and ease the procedures, to address the root cause of the salary crisis.
• Respond to the demands of soldiers protesting in front of the Ministry of Defense’s finance office through direct dialogue instead of ignoring their near-daily protests.

4. To the Ministry of Electricity and the Public Electricity Corporation

• Accelerate the commissioning of the newly arrived Gulf Energy Company generators (100 MW), and announce a clear timeline to citizens.
• Complete the solar-lighting project in Buraiqa and replicate the model in other districts, especially Mansoura and Khor Maksar, which suffer most from outages.
• Respond to the demands of the August 13 sit-in in front of the Ministry with concrete, measurable steps rather than statements alone.

5. To the Local Water and Sanitation Corporation and the Ministry of Oil

• Urgently address the near-total water crisis, ongoing “for years,” in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman before it worsens further.
• Supply diesel fuel to sewage-pumping stations in Al-Mualla to stop the flooding.
• Ensure the sustainability of the solution achieved in Mansoura by converting it into an institutional measure independent of the district director as an individual.
• Intervene urgently and transparently to address the unprecedented gas-supply crisis, and clarify its real causes to the public to end the state of apprehension and its political exploitation. 

6. To Aden Governorate and the Local Government

• Follow up on the implementation of the Deputy Governor’s pledge of 17,000 job opportunities announced at the Youth Day event, and announce a clear mechanism and timeline.
• Conduct a fair review of licensing and rental policy for small and medium enterprises to halt the wave of closures in Inma and elsewhere.
• Conduct a transparent review of the distribution mechanism for the King Salman relief-center shipment (13 tankers, 4,680 baskets) to dispel doubts about favoritism toward particular support bases. 

7. To the Ministry of Public Health and Population

• Address the acute shortage of staff and medicines at the Kod Al-Othmani and Sheikh Othman health complexes, following the good model recorded in Khor Maksar.
• Urgently support the health sector in Inma following the closure of Taiba Charitable Hospital, the town’s sole healthcare provider.
• Investigate complaints about declining service quality and rising costs at major investment hospitals such as the “German Hospital.”

8. To the Ministry of Education and the Teachers’ Union

• Open urgent dialogue between the Southern Teachers’ Union and the local government to prevent hints of a strike from escalating into an actual strike that harms the new school year.
• Review decisions to raise fees at private schools (20%–50%) and require reductions that take families’ purchasing power into account.
• Investigate the rising verbal tensions between parents and teachers ahead of the start of the school year.

9. To the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Civil Actors

• Build on the success of the Youth Day event in Sheikh Othman by organizing similar events in other districts under high psychological strain, such as Buraiqa and Mansoura.
• Support psychosocial-support programs for the residents of Bir Ahmed and Maashiq affected by the recurring sound of ground air-defense fire, especially children.
• Monitor the humanitarian impact of incidents such as the death of the child Hamza, and support families affected by house fires through urgent relief programs.