The article details the harrowing experiences of migrants, particularly from the Horn of Africa, who are arriving in Yemen with the hope of reaching Saudi Arabia. Despite the ongoing civil war in Yemen, the number of migrants has increased, with over 111,500 arriving in 2016. These migrants, including the Ethiopian coffee farmer Omar Farrag, face extortion, torture, and abuse at the hands of smugglers and trafficking rings, which are believed to be protected by local militias. Women face the risk of rape, and there is evidence of forced deportations and recruitment by militant groups. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is aware of the abuses but the full extent of the crisis is unknown. Migrants take dangerous routes through Djibouti or Somalia to reach Yemen, and their journey is fraught with violence and exploitation. Despite his own suffering and the death of his brother, Farrag is still determined to reach Saudi Arabia.

The article discusses the case of Ali Awad Habib, a businessman in Aden, Yemen, who was detained and allegedly tortured by the Security Belt forces. Habib was taken from his office and family business by masked gunmen and held for six months, during which he faced various accusations, including being an al-Qaida member, a drug dealer, and an Iranian agent. Despite his release, Habib's father remains unaccounted for, believed to be taken to an Emirati base in Assab, Eritrea. Naquib al-Yahri, head of Mansoura prison, denies any torture or illegal detentions, while Aden's security chief, Shalal al-Shaya, dismisses reports of illegal detentions and torture, stating that raids are carried out legally and expressing indifference to the fate of the detainees.

Saada, the birthplace of Yemen’s Shiite rebels, has suffered extensive damage due to airstrikes by Saudi Arabia and its allies. The city has seen a significant portion of its infrastructure destroyed, including historic buildings, hospitals, and schools. Despite the decrease in bombings, residents live in constant fear of further strikes and a potential ground assault. The Houthi movement, which originated in Saada, has been at the center of the conflict. The Saudi-led coalition has targeted the city heavily, accusing the Houthis of receiving Iranian support and using civilian structures for military purposes, which the Houthis and Iran deny. The humanitarian situation is dire, with a lack of medical supplies, malnutrition, and the risk of death for pregnant women due to complications. Efforts to return to normalcy are hampered by the fear of airstrikes, with many schools still closed and children being recruited as soldiers by both sides of the conflict.