The country of Yemen came into being in May of 1990 when North Yemen merged with South Yemen. Sanaa, the former capital of the North, became the political capital, and Aden, the former capital of the South, became the economic center. Because of the less-developed economy in Yemen, many Yemenites (predominantly males) have emigrated out of the country seeking employment, often to send money back home. In addition, a brutal police force and government have led to violence and discrimination against people in the country, especially those that have voiced disagreements with the government. Yemeni individuals have been migrating to America since the 1800s with large influxes from the 1970s onward. There are about 5,000 Yemeni residents in Buffalo and thousands more in near Buffalo suburbs, particularly Lackawanna, the heart of the Yemeni community.