Yemen – water crisis in the shadow of war

In the heart of Yemen, where conflict has not ceased for a decade, water has become a resource more precious than anything else. It is access to it that determines the life and health of the people of this war-ravaged country. Małgorzata Pietrzak, a coordinator with Polish Humanitarian Action, shares with Agnieszka Hobot her thoughts on the harsh reality of Yemen, which is facing one of its worst humanitarian crises. Despite the devastated infrastructure and chronic lack of access to water, the spirit of cooperation and desire for peace still smolders among the ruins.

Agnieszka Hobot: In 2024, Yemen, which is currently facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises, is experiencing multi-layered problems with access to water, affecting the daily lives of millions. According to a report by Concern Worldwide [1], 80 percent. of the population lives below the poverty line. What are the main causes of water scarcity in Yemen today, and to what extent has the armed conflict affected the availability and quality of drinking water?

Malgorzata Pietrzak: Talking about Yemen is extremely important for us, especially since the conflict there has been going on for 10 years and it seems that the world is gradually starting to forget about it. What we are talking about today – access to water – is one of the most serious problems facing the people of Yemen. The country is located in a dry tropical climate zone and has very limited water resources. Residents rely on groundwater and wells, and try to collect rainwater to irrigate their fields.

The armed conflict further exacerbates the problem, as bombing and shelling destroys key infrastructure. Local water supply systems are damaged or devastated, leading to a situation where people have no access to clean water, not to mention that for washing or irrigating fields. The situation is catastrophic and is affecting more and more people.

A.H.: What changes have occurred in the daily lives of Yemenis in terms of access to water since the conflict erupted? How do people deal with the situation on a daily basis?

M.P.: The armed conflict has directly affected the availability of water, primarily by destroying infrastructure, and as a result, many people now have no access to the resource.As a result, water often has to be delivered by barrel trucks, which is an ad hoc and precarious solution. In addition, the decade-long conflict has hindered any work on infrastructure reconstruction and expansion.

For example, in Ma’rib, a city that before the war had a population of about 40,000. residents, is now home to more than 700,000. The infrastructure, originally designed for a much smaller number of people, is inadequate, and the population continues to grow. Over the past month, the camps we coordinate have received some 30 to 40 families who have arrived at camps for internally displaced people without any resources. These people need not only water, but also immediate medical care, education, shelter and psychological and legal assistance. This is a huge humanitarian disaster.

A.H.: The water and sanitation crisis in Yemen is regionally diverse. Can you indicate which areas are most affected and why?

M.P.: Among the regions with the greatest water problems, Ma’rib certainly stands out. It is an area located in the desert, which naturally limits access to water. There is a water reservoir here, but its resources are not sufficient to meet the needs of all the residents of the city and surrounding villages. The problem is exacerbated by the condition of the water canals, which are dilapidated and often unusable. Polish Humanitarian Action recently conducted a needs assessment in the region and we found that many residents living along these canals, especially at the sixth, seventh or eighth kilometers from the reservoir, have no access to water. These canals are neglected and blocked by waste carried by floods, making the situation even more difficult.

In the long term, water infrastructure needs to be repaired and rebuilt. Without lasting solutions, once a humanitarian project is completed, residents may again be left without access to water. That’s why we place great emphasis on measures that provide long-term support, and methods such as: water delivery by barrel trucks can only provide a temporary solution.

Another area that also needs attention is Al-Jawf, located in the north of the country and bordering Saudi Arabia. This is a desert area where the only possible source of water is underground resources. Delivering water by barrel trucks is very costly for communities due to the long distances involved. During a needs assessment, we noted that some residents live as far as 35 kilometers from a water point.

A.H.: Five years after the record cholera epidemic, Yemen is again struggling with an increase in cases of the disease. What are the current sanitary and hygienic conditions in the IDP camps?

M.P.: Conditions vary widely. Although by design all camps should be organized and well-planned, most were established spontaneously as a response to sudden population movements, hence they are often located on the outskirts of cities, where planned infrastructure is lacking, significantly affecting living conditions. Water is a critical issue, and although camps are usually set up near wells, these intakes are often privately owned, requiring negotiation and cooperation, both with the owners and with humanitarian organizations and authorities. In addition, there is a lack of latrines, hand-washing facilities and an adequate number of water points, further increasing the risk of developing diseases such as cholera.

Intensive humanitarian efforts are focused on increasing accessibility to sanitation facilities, but with an increasing number of people forced to move for economic or insecurity reasons, the need continues to grow. Many people have to leave their homes to seek refuge in other regions of the country, further increasing the need for humanitarian support.

Against the backdrop of the spread of cholera, Yemen, which a few years ago became the epicenter of one of the largest epidemics that claimed thousands of lives, is now once again seeing an increase in infections. In the Ma’rib region this month alone, 91 people have been diagnosed positive and seven have died. These are alarming statistics that are forcing us to step up our efforts. Humanitarian organizations are responding to these challenges by providing medicines to local clinics, as well as an intense focus on improving sanitation and hygiene, setting up more hand-washing stations and providing hygiene products, water purification tablets, soap or canisters. All this is done to ensure that people have access to clean water.

A.H.: What are the risks for you currently in conducting humanitarian operations in Yemen?

M.P.: The main risk to our operations in Yemen is related to the safety of PAH employees and the people we are trying to help. The situation is extremely dynamic due to the ongoing conflict, which manifests itself with varying intensity in different parts of the country. Protecting the lives and health of both staff and aid recipients is our top priority. Another significant challenge is reaching those in need of support. We are often faced with limited access to population groups for a variety of reasons – from ongoing hostilities, infrastructure deficiencies, to logistical difficulties related to regional geography. In addition, internal conflicts exacerbate the situation, further complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

A.H.: New technologies, such as solar systems, are playing an important role in improving access to water around the world. Does it look similar in Yemen?

M.P.: In Yemen, where traditional energy sources are limited, solar systems are more popular as an alternative to traditional fuels. Humanitarian organizations as part of their projects often install solar panels to power well pumps, for example. This is not only environmentally friendly, but also effective in terms of long-term aid. We do this in Kenya, South Sudan or Madagascar. People in Yemen are also increasingly using small solar panels to power household appliances.

As a result, the technology is becoming widespread throughout the country. However, it is not only innovation that is important – in our operations we place great emphasis on the sustainability of the solutions we introduce. For example, in Al Arsh camp, where before our intervention only 10 percent. of the population had access to water, together with a local partner we built a water reservoir. As a result, today 60 percent. of the people have access to it. This approach allows us not only to respond to current crises, but also to build a foundation for long-term stability and self-sufficiency of local communities.

To adequately respond to the humanitarian crisis, our team in Yemen is implementing needs assessments. Conducted in May 2024, the assessment showed that upgrades to existing water infrastructure are needed. In the context of Ma’rib, this would have to include, among other things, repairing, cleaning and securing existing canals. Decades of damage and lack of funds for repairs have severely limited the effectiveness of these facilities, leaving only a few to use the available resources. We plan to clean the canals and bring this system up to proper functioning.

We also recently conducted a needs assessment in 10 camps in Ma’rib, where we found that access to water remains a huge need. In contrast, we recently completed a rapid assessment in response to the flooding and strong wind gusts that occurred in the first half of August. It turned out that 21 people were injured in 11 camps, and more than 4,000 were affected by the floods. Nearly 700 temporary shelters were damaged. Of this number, 555 are beyond repair and new houses need to be erected. In addition, nearly 40 water reservoirs and a minimum of 80 latrines have been damaged.

A.H.: How is it currently working with the people of Yemen? How do you engage local communities to increase the sustainability of projects?

M.P.: First of all, my experience in humanitarian work is that you can’t just come with a ready-made project, but rather you have to listen to what people want to tell us and only on that basis plan a solution. For this reason, we visit communities, asking directly about their needs. With the help of people on the ground, we conduct real assessments to find out where and what kind of help they need most. We do not leave out any social group, keeping in mind that different needs exist, for example, for pregnant women, the elderly or those with disabilities, In addition, marginalized people often live even at a considerable distance from the camp, hence their voice may be less heard, which we must keep in mind every time. We also talk to representatives of local authorities.

Through this approach, by prioritizing the voice of aid recipients, we ensure community acceptance of our activities. Projects are tailored to the current requirements of each region, which is key, as different areas may have different needs and the same solutions cannot be applied in different contexts, for example, what may be needed differently in Al-Jawf and what may be needed in Ma’rib. We see that local residents are engaged and cooperative, provide us with valuable information on the current humanitarian situation, share insights and speak openly about what they need.

For example, we are now working in the camps we are serving from 2021, and we are forming so-called “community committees” there. community committees. These are committees made up of residents of these camps who support us in our daily activities. Thanks to them, we can gather a variety of information on current needs from many groups of people, and we can effectively communicate important messages – such as where to find help, who to contact.

A.H.: Finally, I would like to touch on the topic of cooperation of international organizations in the context of access to water. You mentioned that needs analysis is key, but it seems to me that many organizations are now approaching this in a similar way. So how do you coordinate activities to avoid duplication of projects in the same places?

M.P.: Indeed, this is a significant challenge, but fortunately we have good system solutions. We operate within an integrated cluster system that covers various humanitarian sectors. Among them are the health cluster, the civil protection cluster, the food cluster, the camp management cluster, and in the context of access to water and sanitation, it’s called the WASH cluster. WASH cluster (water, sanitation, hygiene). Polish Humanitarian Action actively participates in six clusters, including precisely the WASH cluster.

In addition, we maintain contact with working groups that focus on region-specific issues. In Yemen, a key issue is the so-called. HLP – Housing, Land and Property, that is, the topic of land access and use. It is the subject of much discussion and coordination efforts. PAH is also spearheading a newly formed coordination group (WASH – Protection)that focuses on issues related to the impact of water access and civil protection problems.

A.H.: In your opinion, has anything changed over the past few years in Yemen? Is the conflict escalating or the opposite?

Based on my experience in Yemen, I can say that the situation is complex and dynamic, as certainly the conflict continues to affect the lives of many people, with the result that the need for external assistance is not diminishing. In my opinion, the big problem is funding, which is decreasing year by year, while limiting our ability to provide assistance, including providing access to water. Nonetheless, we see tremendous involvement of local communities in peace initiatives and various projects to improve the situation. In Yemen, activities are underway to ensure not only immediate relief, but also to build lasting peace in the region. All this makes us hopeful that the situation in the country will improve in the near future.

My conversation with Malgosia Pietrzak certainly sheds a slightly different light on the difficult but not hopeless situation in Yemen. With proper coordination and commitment, even the most difficult challenges can be gradually overcome. Somewhere out there “at the end of the world” people need our support in accessing water – if we can, let’s help!

PAH’s work in Yemen can be supported at: https://pah.org.pl/wplac

[1] https://www.concern.net/where-we-work/yemen