For over a decade, Yemen—one of the world’s oldest civilizations—has been engulfed in a brutal war that has claimed thousands of civilian lives, devastated its fragile infrastructure, and triggered what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Yet beyond these tragic losses, another silent catastrophe is unfolding—one that threatens Yemen’s cultural and historical identity: the systematic looting and destruction of its heritage and antiquities.
Amid the chaos of conflict, archaeological sites and museums have become prime targets for illicit excavation, theft, and destruction, resulting in the irreparable loss of Yemen’s cultural legacy. Yemeni artefacts—some dating back thousands of years—are now alarmingly common in international auctions and online markets. This escalating phenomenon is driven by transnational smuggling networks operating with alarming efficiency, while the absence of a coherent national and global strategy leaves Yemen’s heritage increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and loss.
Countless artefacts have been plundered from thousands of archaeological sites, looted indiscriminately, and stolen from museums amid the war. Official estimates indicate that over 14,000 rare Yemeni manuscripts and hundreds of invaluable antiquities—including bronze statues, inscriptions, gold and silver coins, copper amulets, stone tablets, and arrowheads—have been trafficked. A significant portion of this plunder is attributed to the Houthi militia, which has been internationally designated as a terrorist organization. Alongside them, extremist groups, armed factions, and independent traffickers have all contributed to the large-scale smuggling of Yemen’s cultural assets, facilitated by the collapse of state authority and the absence of enforcement mechanisms.
The looting of Yemen’s antiquities amid war constitutes a cultural catastrophe, imperilling the nation’s identity and historical continuity. Protecting this heritage is inextricably linked to restoring peace and stability, ending the war, enacting stringent legal protections, and fostering international cooperation to recover stolen artefacts and prosecute those responsible for their illicit trade. Preserving Yemen’s antiquities is not merely an act of cultural stewardship—it is a duty to history itself.
This crisis, however, is not just about the loss of tangible artefacts; it represents a devastating rupture in the historical and cultural fabric of one of the world’s oldest civilizations. These artefacts are not just stones or relics of the past—they are tangible witnesses to millennia of human achievement. Their theft and destruction amount to a crime against global heritage, depriving the world of an essential chapter of its collective memory.
I urgently call for immediate international intervention to address this crisis and support Yemen in safeguarding its cultural heritage. This is no longer a matter of national concern alone—it is a shared human responsibility. Yemeni civilization is not solely the inheritance of Yemenis—it is an integral part of world heritage. We all bear responsibility for its protection, before history and for future generations.
Abeer Al-Athwary: Executive Director at the Yemen Foundation for Justice, Development, and Peace
