Yemen - 1960's

In the 1960s, a long period of stagnation led to the collapse of British control over Yemen. My grandfather, Bharat Vakarhia, a British passport holder, experienced this upheaval firsthand. As violence escalated, the British government withdrew from Yemen in 1967, and the situation quickly descended into chaos. Bharat’s family, who owned a large retail store similar to a modern-day Costco, found themselves caught in the turmoil. Rebels seized their business, and the growing violence made it impossible to stay.

Within just 24 hours, Bharat and his eight siblings had to leave everything behind—their store, home, and the place where they had grown up. Fortunately, they managed to secure a flight to Mumbai, becoming one of the few to escape the chaos. Life in southern Yemen, particularly in the British Crown Colony of Aden, became increasingly dangerous. Communist terrorism surged, and crimes like robbery and sexual violence became common. As normalcy slipped away, the British evacuated thousands of their citizens and residents. Sadly, those without British passports were left behind, facing severe danger.

The situation worsened when a self-proclaimed king emerged, further fragmenting the country and escalating the violence. Anti-British sentiment grew, leading to a three-way revolutionary war. This brutal conflict evolved into a multi-decade civil war, eventually resulting in a fragile democratic government taking control.

Despite the formation of this new government, the conflict didn’t cease. A Shia-Iranian backed group, the Houthis, began an insurgency in the north, which continues to this day. The war in Yemen, now one of the longest-running conflicts in history, has largely faded from global attention, overshadowed by crises in regions like Israel and Ukraine.

Despite this shifting focus, the violence in Yemen persists. Saudi Arabia, using American equipment, continues to bomb the country, and there are reports of chemical weapons being used. This ongoing conflict is a tragic reminder of Yemen’s decades-long turmoil.