Yemen on the brink of total collapse
Water supply in Yemen is characterized by many challenges. With the scarcity of water, wells are a blessings for some while a curse for others, particularly children who are at risk of falling into the often 30-meter deep open holes when trying to get water with buckets. In the past, such dramatic incidents often resulted in unnecessary child death. This is why CARE initiated well-building projects to support and teach people how to seal open wells and sink new and safe ones, powered with solar systems. This is important both for people’s safety and survival. The protracted escalated to new heights for the last two years, resulting, among others, in limited access to clean water. Some families told me that they only drink half a glass of water per day. To prevent this, CARE supports the reconstruction of water sources and the construction of new cisterns.
During my visit to Wadi Merweh, a small village close to the capital Sana’a, I meet with Khalid Tafica. His well was reconstructed with the support of CARE. His fields are right next to his well. It is actually seedtime at the moment but nothing is growing on his fields. He tells me that he had planned to cultivate vegetables this year. But for that, he would need to water the fields. Many wells dried up in his region and leading to people using his well to get water. The water level in his well has decreased tremendously. “How can I water my fields, when my neighbours are close to dying of thirst,” Khalid says. When I asked what would happen if the rain does not come soon, Khalid has no answer and he is not the only one facing this problem. Without enough water, crops cannot grow. Without food, people suffer from hunger. It is a vicious circle, which is impossible to break free of without international humanitarian aid.
Karl-Otto Zentel, National Director of CARE Germany, tastes water from the newly built well. Photo: CARE/Eman Al-Awami
According to the United Nations, 14 million people are starving and about half a million children are severely malnourished. Yemen is on the brink of famine.
Cut off from the environment
Yemen has another problem. Lack of clear water results in poor hygiene and sanitation practices. This means that there is not enough clean water to wash hands, for personal hygiene or sanitation. This poses a higher risk for the spreading of diseases such as cholera. During my visit in Aden someone told me that almost 40 percent of the buildings have no access to the sewer. Many people died from cholera in this area. The closest hospital is often many kilometres away and it takes hours of walking to get there – an insurmountable distance for sick and old people. The local CARE team in Aden reports that it was able to reduce the spreading of diseases and prevent new infections. Latrines and wells in combination with hygiene trainings can prevent water contamination and breakout of diseases.
Lack of water highly affects the region around Aden; people live with the bare minimum of supplies. Before the war began, they were connected to the city’s water supply system, which was destroyed during attacks. The population now is completely cut off. CARE supports them with water cisterns. But the project will end in a few weeks and CARE does not have sufficient financial resources to continue the project. Only 6,6 percent of the required 2 billion Euros are funded for the emergency relief operation in Yemen. This is disastrous and I don’t know how people can survive without water supply. We have to act now before yet another child falls into a dried out well.
By Karl-Otto Zentel, National Director of CARE Germany-Luxemburg
For more on our work in Yemen, click here.