Taizz – Six years of conflict left 20.4 million people in Yemen in need of humanitarian assistance to access safe water. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), through a partnership with USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), has constructed water systems and networks to secure water in four sites to over 40,000 people in Taizz governorate, using solar power to bring sustainable clean water access to vulnerable communities and conflict-affected communities.

In one of the world’s most water-scarce countries, 11.2 million people in Yemen are in acute need, requiring life-saving assistance and access to clean and safe drinking water. Water remains crucial for good health and survival. Displaced populations and those affected by disease outbreaks need it the most.

“The conflict in Yemen is entering its sixth year, and the huge humanitarian need across all sectors has not abated, it has impacted employment and the ability for government institutions to support rural projects and to provide basic services. Besides, the impact  has affected the economy resulting in a rise in prices, shortage of resources, and interruption of salaries. On top of that the outbreak of COVID-19 made it more difficult to reach and use safe water and sanitation facilities” said Ayoob Z’abl, IOM Yemen WASH team member.

“Since the 1990s, Taizz has been the second most water-scarce governate and the third fastest-growing population in Yemen. 1.3 million people are in critical need and 78 per cent of these are women and children. Water and sanitation interventions are needed to reach the most vulnerable people and communities affected by the conflict and provide them safe water to protect from diseases and danger of COVID-19” added Ayoob.

In Shouba district, IOM installed a solar water system and a pump to increase the efficiency of the water supply project by over 65 per cent, now reaching over 7,000 people. Before IOM’s intervention, the conflict introduced a fuel crisis in the county which impacted the delivery of water supply in Shouba and lead to a surge in water prices of over 600 per cent. Furthermore, the district encountered returnees and displaced populations which added to the needs in the community.

“Transferring water was by traditional methods, over a donkey and by a robe and a bucket, it was a burden on the people. It used to take women and children a long time to collect water from wells to home, children used to skip schools, diseases and diarrhoea were spread because of the water contamination when it is fetched” explained Ammar Abdulaziz, affected community member in Shouba

“I felt the difference after the intervention. The price of water is cheaper now and I can pay it since it is affordable for me. I can improve my life now, and my children’s health and education” added Ammar.

Similarly, in Wadi Arafat district the water supply project couldn’t supply enough water to the people because of the lack of fuel and a collapsing and overloaded system. Wadi Arafat was a safe destination for many returnees and displaced people to flee from conflict. IOM installed a solar water system and a pump that supplies safe water for 24 hours to over 6,500 people including three displacement camps.

In Al-Nashma the centre of Al-Maffer district, IOM provided easy access to water for 25,000 people through green sustainable energy. Prior to IOM’s intervention, people used to fetch water from unsafe open wells or incur the trouble of buying a water truck service.

In Maelat Doba’a, Al-Shamayaten district, the available water supply suffered from a collapsed water network which could not deliver water to homes efficiently and was expensive. Moreover, the water meters at the houses were malfunctioning which made it difficult for the project to issue bills. IOM installed a new main network that distributes water to 2,200 people across five villages and runs to each house with new water meters.

“Operational costs, maintenance, and a lack of fuel for a long period threatened the closure of water and sanitation supplies. Throughout March to August, IOM had interventions to preserve water supply projects and provide services to the local communities and displaced people in the governorate” explained Ayoob

Lives have improved in local communities, particularly for returnees, and displaced people in Taizz.   Through IOM utilizing solar power it enables the affected population to find long-lasting solutions to their dependence on water trucking, which is an incredibly costly short term option for humanitarian actors responding to the needs for water availability. Now by accessing safe water through solar energy, communities can be protected from diseases such as cholera and COVID-19.

For more information, please contact Rami Al-Absi, Tel: +967739888756, Email: ralabsi@iom.int