Yemen's Fight for Clean Water

Introduction 

Yemen is on the brink of mass dehydration. Water Scarcity has plagued the streets of Yemen, combining with ongoing political conflict and climate change, Yemen struggles to survive. Limited access to clean water, led to an increase in hunger and feminine nationwide, and it is on us to help them fight. 

Context 

Decades of drought plagued the streets of Yemen. Given Yemen's dry arid desert-like landscape it is clear it has never borne much water and this crisis is only exacerbating the lack of water available. Omar affirms, “Annual precipitation in Yemen typically ranges between 108 and 114 millimeters.” (Omar 1) This amount of precipitation is greatly below average and even lower than the minimum amount of rainfall needed to sustain urban and rural populations. Aspects outside of climate change also play into this crisis, a major one being politics. For years Yemen has experienced government instability, war, and neglect towards advancements in sustainable and water infrastructure. 

Current Challenges/ Impacts 

Now, after more than a decade of war, 14 million people face displacement and struggle to find shelter and food. Yemen now ranks as one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. (UNHCR 1) Yemenis are left with a fragmented government and torn water infrastructure that resulted in a spike in spread of diseases. Specifically children are more vulnerable to diseases such as cholera due to their immature immune system that is not as adapted to unclean water. Unicef urges that, “9.4 million people are in acute need for WASH services; otherwise, they are at heightened risk of water borne diseases, malnutrition and other life threatening conditions.” This insurmountable number seems impossible to help. But in reality all it takes is an effective call to action and solutions set in place for the well being of all the people in Yemen. Marginalized groups such as displaced families, women and children have been especially vulnerable to these spread of diseases and lack of resources have only suffered more because of this crisis. 

Systems of Injustice 

Yemen's water crisis didn't happen overnight. It was a result of years of political tensions, war, and corruption. Yemen's government has and is more focused on the ongoing civil war at hand rather than focusing on the critical water crisis. Instead of investing into sustainable infrastructure or repairing ruined ones, it was reported that these infrastructures have actually been targets to strike to limit the access of clean water available. Political failures of implementing inadequate policies towards sustainable projects and emergency relief programs consequent to the lack of resources and service available to the people and families struggling with dehydration, illness, and lack of shelter. 

Calls to Action 

Nevertheless it is up to us, the international community, to take action and stand up for Yemen. Through implementation of WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and long term viable solutions Yemen will be able to receive but they need our help. With investments in water purification systems and sanitation we can slowly start to guarantee effective and easier access

Yemen's Fight for Clean Water 

To clean water for all Yemenis. However, regardless of the aid or projects the international committee can provide the effectiveness relies within the government. The root cause for this whole crisis came to be because of the unstable government and in order to ensure the health of the people we can prioritize and take direct action to reform the government and secure an inclusive and effective government that places the people's health first. With these and many other joint solutions in mind we can successfully work towards a thirst-free Yemen.

Yemen's Fight for Clean Water 

Ahmed Al-Hmani, et al. “Case-Control Study of Drinking Water Quality in Yemen.” World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, 2024, www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-30-2024/volume-30-issue-3/case-control-study-of-drin king-water-quality-in-yemen.html. 

Arizona Daily Wildcat. “Yemen’s Water Crisis, Clean Water Is a Dream.” YouTube, 23 May 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb8ALPXzu08. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. “From Conflict to Cooperation: Yemeni Communities Find Common Ground over Water.” UNDP, 2024, 

www.undp.org/arab-states/stories/conflict-cooperation-yemeni-communities-find-commo n-ground-over-water. 

Omar, Ayman. “Struggling over Every Drop: Yemen’s Crisis of Aridity and Political Collapse.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2025, 

carnegieendowment.org/sada/2025/04/struggling-over-every-drop-yemens-crisis-of-aridit y-and-political-collapse?lang=en. 

TEDx Talks. “Scarcity of Water in Yemen: An Urgent Call for Action : Kaled Alamarie at TEDxSanaa 2012.” YouTube, 19 Feb. 2013, 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=klmg1MsWKJg. 

UNHCR. “Yemen Crisis Explained.” Www.unrefugees.org, 27 Mar. 2025, www.unrefugees.org/news/yemen-crisis-explained/. 

UNICEF. “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.” Unicef.org, 2022, 

www.unicef.org/yemen/water-sanitation-and-hygiene.