Inside Yemen: Secrets of a World’s Most Dangerous Land

Inside Yemen: Secrets of a World’s Most Dangerous Land

Hello. Today, I’ll be traveling across
Yemen. I’ll tell you about the war, marriage traditions, and women’s rights
here. I promise, you’ll be surprised. How do they choose your wife? It’s my girl cousin. We’ll explore colourful fishing villages.
So sit back, smash that like button and let’s dive into this! Were you born in Socotra? Yes. Did you live your whole life here? Yes? I landed in Socotra, finished the
paperwork. The airport’s small but super quick Now we’re driving to the beach. It should
be really beautiful! The sea’s on the right. It’s beautiful! Goats keep jaywalking. There’s quite a lot of trash near the
towns. Let’s hope it is cleaner further down the
road. I arrived in Yemen, a country ravaged by
years of war and often remembered only for its suffering. Yemen is one of the
oldest civilizations with a rich history of kingdoms, colonization, trade routes
and ongoing wars. Yemen was home to Saba, the biblical
Sheba kingdom. The famous Queen of Sheba mentioned in the Bible and Quran was
likely from Yemen. Yemen was the heart of the incense route exporting myrrh and
incense to the Mediterranean. Yemen’s past is packed with ancient kingdoms. Jewish rule, Muslim expansion,
colonization, communism, wars and geopolitical conflicts. The most violent
of these was the Houthi rebellion that started in 2004 and the 2014 civil war in
Yemen that’s still going on today. Yemeni women and girls deal with some of
the hardest life conditions out there. Yemen is a patriarchal country where
women’s rights are very limited, and the recent civil war made their situation
even worse. Many girls don’t finish school especially in villages because
families prioritize boys’ education. This local village is all stone, with
rugs laid on the ground. This must be the kitchen. The walls are
all stained. They have a tree for shade? They’re getting by This village and its location are lovely.
All the buildings use the same stones and style, though it’s pretty remote way up
in the mountains. The road to it is awful! There’s no running water, and
electricity comes only from small solar panels. It’s a hard life, but there are banana
trees. And you can’t deny the view! It’s interesting. Just two families in
the village, but they’ve built a mosque! They’re faithful people Here, only about 6% of women have jobs
since most employers don’t want to hire them. The war only made it worse with
many workplaces and schools destroyed. The country has one of the highest
maternal death rates in the world: more than 1,500 out of every 100,000 women die
during childbirth Compared to Europe’s 4, Yemen’s number –
1500 is shocking. Women especially in war zones have no access to doctors and often
give birth without help See what’s hanging? Goat skins. They use
them to store food and other materials There is the skin of a small goat. One local really loves dragon blood trees
and is trying to replant them. Here’s the plant Guess how long it takes this tree to grow
this big? 13 years! It grows so slowly. Even if you water it,
It’ll still grow super slow During civil war, women face violence,
exploitation and abuse. Violence including sexual abuse has increased.
Many women keep quiet due to stigma. If they didn’t, they and their families
would face ridicule. The armed rebels here use women as tools
of war, forcing them to marry fighters. They kidnap or use them for propaganda.
With poor education, forced marriages, legal bias and war, women’s rights here
are some of the worst in the world. Though some changes are happening,
progress is slow due to conservative views and patriarchy. They grind up dragon blood crystals, add
some water and make real Dragon’s Blood. See, locals make these crafts. They’re
shaped from clay and painted with dragon’s blood paste. They make everything by hand and fire it
in a kiln. They also make these smudge sticks. When
you burn them, it smells really good! It’s such a peaceful place in these
mountains. Only roosters and goats make noise. There’s no one around. Not even trees
growing here, This town is quite poor. Mostly here,
women stay inside or hide behind fences. Men are fishing and pass their catch for
the sons to sell. The kids are lively, social and cheerful.
The girls here are beautiful! Yemen has one of the highest child
marriage rates in the world. Around 32% of girls here get married before 18, some
get married even before they turn 15. Since there’s no legal age for marriage
families often marry girls off as soon as they hit puberty. This often leads to physical and
psychological trauma because these girls are made mothers while being kids
themselves. An interesting fact: Islam allows cousin marriages. Such marriages
aren’t banned by the Quran. They help preserve wealth and status in the family Since cousins grow up together, the
marriages are considered to be more stable than with strangers. In some
societies it’s believed women find it easier to live with husbands they’re
related to. This is socially accepted in many Muslim countries especially in rural
areas For example: about 60% of marriages in
Pakistan are between cousins. Even in modern Saudi Arabia, around half of
marriages are between cousins and in Yemen and Egypt, 40% of all marriages are
between cousins What about the women? I cannot see their faces so are they
beautiful here in Socotra? Yes, of course. The beauty is hidden. The real beauty is inside the body. But here, women are women like everywhere
else in the world. But because they’re Muslim They’re protecting themselves. But yes,
they are beautiful! Because the kids here are cute. They’ve
got faces you’d see on angel statues But the women are like mystery boxes. All
wrapped up in hijabs, I can’t see anything! The children are beautiful, so the ladies
are beautiful too. Yeah, I had a hunch too. That the beauty
department here is doing just fine. Is your wife beautiful? Yeah, of course. Did you choose your wife yourself? In Socotra, some marriages are arranged. The families pick everything. And yours? Arranged. But it was a good decision. So, she loves you? Yes, of course. Sometimes the parent’s choice is the best
one. So, did they pick your wife from a
catalog or what? It’s my girl cousin. Your cousin? she’s from your father’s brother side? No, she’s my aunt’s daughter. So, all these guys’ wives? Arranged marriages. All of their wives have been chosen by
their parents. He’s chilling, chewing cat. Can the husband see his wife before the
marriage? Usually, yes. You knew your cousin, yeah? Of course. But if it was not your cousin? They still show her at least once. As we drive, it’s clear Yemen is poor.
The long years of civil war led to this. The reason as always: the East and West
blocks competing to pull it into their sphere of influence. Yemen is rich in
natural resources like gold, uranium, iron and oil. But they’re not extracted
as years of war have destroyed the infrastructure It’s Yemen’s strategic location that
drives the fight for it. It is located by the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, linking the Red
Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The strait is a vital trade route with nearly
6 million barrels of oil transported through it every day. It’s the main route between Europe,
Africa and Asia. Whoever controls the country, controls the strait. For rival
states, this could become a big economic problem. Socotra was under Soviet control, but
these tanks were never fired since no battles took place here. The war in Yemen has already claimed over
500,000 lives. 17 million people face starvation and
cholera outbreaks. With hospitals and infrastructure lying
in ruins. During the Yemen war, where did the
people flee to? They usually just remained in Yemen. Did they stay in Yemen, even in the war
zones? There isn’t any internal conflict in
Yemen, only on the northern borders with Saudi Arabia. I see. They went southward from the
north. They are internally displaced people
here. But no refugees go to other countries. So, for instance, nobody fled to Socotra. Some did, but only for to look for a job For a job Yeah, construction workers. Nurses. Office workers. I’m in a fishing village. It’s a bit of a
mess. We’ll go to a new beach now. Socotra is safe, no bombs falling there.
It’s already in Saudi and UAE hands not the rebels Let’s drop the politics and
get into the unique beauty and wild creatures of this land Fishing is the
main source of income in Socotra Many people live off the sea. The local
fishermen use traditional wooden boats called ‘huri’. Their main catches include
tuna, mackerel, barracuda and shrimp. I’ll be walking through a village with
lots of fish for sale! Some villagers sell dried fish since
there’s no electricity to store fresh fish properly. It’s a local fish market. Most stalls
sell the same fish; sometimes you see tuna too. More and more fishermen are coming back
while the kids play football nearby, while others are already selling and
cleaning the fish. It’s a nice, friendly kind of mess. People are smiling and warm. We just got some fresh fish. I saw them catch a big one and throw it
straight into the boat Socotra’s coastlines are unique for their
breathtaking, untouched beauty. These coastlines are like no other! Socotra may
be remote but its waters are full of beauty and unique ecosystems. The shoreline is shaped by cliffs and
steep hills that rise straight from the sea. These rocky cliffs create a sharp
contrast with the turquoise waters. The Hajjiya Mountains rise by the coast,
blending beautifully with the sea. I landed on a wild beach in Socotra. No hotels, no people. Just birds and
calm. I’m gonna camp here in this stunning
wilderness and spend the night in my tent. Here’s my lunch. Fresh, just-caught fish! We didn’t pay at all. The fishermen threw it into our boat as
we passed. We thanked them and waved. Out here in the wild, you eat whatever
you catch. Now they’ll clean the fish, cut it, wash
it and probably cook it It’s still hot. The fish is really good, nicely done. Fresh catch, freshly fried. That’s when it tastes best. Imagine the size of the crab. My leg could fit inside. Maybe I’ll pass on trying. These fishermen came back with three
squids. They’re so cool! That’s tonight’s dinner The squid releases so much ink, the sea
goes black when they clean it. They take out the bone. and use its powders to whiten their
teeth. Honestly, their teeth don’t look clean or
white. But it’s still an interesting fact! I took a walk. It’s not so hard anymore.
Got to the dead forest which is guarded A giant turtle! It’s huge. It’s maybe a metre long and
weighs about 100 kilos too! I saw more dead turtles than live ones. No wonder they call it the Forest of the
Dead. I was walking by the beach. These guys came and invited me to see
their village. They’re very friendly! Everyone here is a fisherman. They live here, just a few fishing
families. No roads, many boats; everything is done by sailing! So you eat turtles? Yeah, I do. Is it delicious? Yes. Does everyone eat them? Yes, everyone. Do you catch them? Yes, it’s delicious. A fascinating village where houses are
practically carved into the hill. For every sandcastle, there’s a giant
crab under it. Stone is the main building material in
Socotra. Stones from the coast are the main material for walls and foundations
here. Stone protects homes from harsh winds, and heat as it insulates the homes
perfectly. Other building materials include clay and
coral reefs, especially popular near the beaches. The walls and floors are made
from clay and sand. Houses are basic but work well in the harsh weather of
Socotra. Not everyone can handle it, but Socotra
is safe. The only problem is that I went for a
walk without shoes. But overall, it’s nice. Locals invited me
to visit them I am stepping through goat and sheep
poop. Here’s another cooking area with an
amazing roof. The rock shields from the hot sun. They make sour milk in these goatskin
pouches. Okay, let’s give it a go. Check out these
gorgeous squid strips. It’s tender, tasty, with delicious Yemeni
spices. It’s delicious. Check out the tentacles. They’re stunning! I bet they’ll taste amazing. It’s a bit rubbery. Soft and delicious The suckers are actually really crunchy. It kinda reminds me of octopus. We end today’s video by the fire. I hope
you enjoyed it. If you did, please hit like and subscribe. And if you’d like to
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Join me on a journey into Yemen, one of the world’s most dangerous countries, where war is ever-present. Despite the constant conflict, this country hides amazing discoveries for those daring enough to explore. From bustling streets to remote villages, from unexpected encounters to secret corners off the beaten path — and even the stunning coastline and hidden beaches — Yemen reveals its hidden stories only to those willing to venture inside.
In this video, I navigate through danger and surprises, uncovering places and experiences that few travelers ever see. I meet the people, attend close-knit family weddings, and witness everyday life shaped by culture and tradition. We also explore women’s rights and their roles in Yemeni society, giving a rare glimpse into lives often unseen by outsiders.
This is a journey about discovery and the people of Yemen, a country whose reality is far more complex and fascinating than headlines suggest.

On this channel, I share my travels across the most exotic parts of the world — from the most remote tribes to the most dangerous countries (like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria or North Korea), places rarely visited by tourists.
I invite you to join me exploring breathtaking mountains, diving into mysterious waters, and experiencing the daily life of local communities up close.
You’ll see real culture: authentic customs, traditional food like from Mark Wiens and everyday life, you may have never heard of.
If you’re interested in trips to little-known places, tribes, dangerous countries, mountains, diving, or local cuisine — this channel is for you.
Subscribe and let’s explore the parts of the world that are still raw and untouched.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 History
02:27 Oppression of women
06:31 Child and cousin marriages
10:44 War
12:58 Socotra’s coast
17:17 Stone village