UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education Republic of Yemen Ministry of Water and Environment Water and Energy Services in Times of War The Political Crisis of Yemen, 2011 – 2016 Musaed Aklan PhD Research Fellow UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education musaedaklan@gmail.com 4th Arab Water Week 2017 Dead Sea, Jordan March 2017

Outline of the Presentation Introduction Yemen & Water Current Political Unrest Impact of Unrest on Water Utilities Water and energy resources in times of War

Introduction Area: 528,076 km² Cultivated area: 1.2 million ha Population: 27 million Growth: 3.5 % Rural: 75%

Yemen & Water FAO 2013

Water Availability Yemen is dry and water-scarce country 2% 10% <120 Source: Hellegers, et al., 2008 Yemen is dry and water-scarce country 

Water Resources & Water Balance Rainwater source Yemen is dry to semi-arid country with no lakes or revers Rainwater is considered to be the main renewable source Rainwater 50 to 700 mm/year Average 200 mm/year Evaporation is much higher rainfall: 1800 – 2500 mm/year Current status of Groundwater Drilling rigs in Yemen: 800 officially registered rigs: 15% Number of wells exceeds: 100,000 Drilling depth reach up to 800-1200 m Annual drop of GW in most critical basins 4-7 m 71% 71% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65% water accessibility 67% Million Cubic Meter /Year % of Population had access to water 2500 ………… 1950s 1960s 1970s Traditional water harvesting, shallow groundwater, (dry practices and spate irrigation) Diesel Price Subsidy Import the large Rigs Exempt farmers from paying taxes

Public Water and sanitation Services

Public Water and sanitation Utilities Groundwater

Political Unrest _ 2011 demonstration & Onwards

2011 Popular protests broke out (Arab spring)  Abril 2011 Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) initiative 2012  following GCC deal, Hadi was elected as president 2013  National Dialogue Conference, and approved by all in January 2014 2014 Houthis took broad control of northern Yemen, including the capital of Sana'a itself

12 September 2014:  UN-brokered deal to form a "unity government“ (the Peace and Partnership Agreement) January 2015: Houthi fighters seized control of the presidential palace and Hadi's residence and continued to takeover control of other governorates till Aden in march 2015 February 2015 Hadi fled to Aden On 26 March, Saudi Arabia and other countries announced and started military operations in Yemen

War Impact - Figures More than 10,000 are killed and more 20,000 injured Around 3.1 million have been displaced, 50% of the affected people are children. The current war has resulted in deteriorating living conditions for Over 80% (21.2 million) of Yemenis. (basic needs of safe water, sanitation, electricity and health services)

War Impact on Water Sector All Water and Sanitation Local utilities, have been badly affected. The staff has been working for long periods without pay. Water production has been seriously hampered The stock of diesel, required to run the groundwater pumps and treatment facilities, keeps very thin at only 8% percent of capacity in 2015 the water charges had to be raised three to six times the price four years ago.

Change in Prices OPERATIONAL LOSS $US The prices of petroleum products keep unstable and have increased in many areas by more than 10 times of pre-crisis costs. OPERATIONAL LOSS $US 1$= 250YR 2014 2015 Sana’a 1,000,000 49,000 Aden 2,400,000 5,100,000 Taiz 4,700,000 1,900,000

WASH Population in need 13.6 million Source: metameta, wec 2017

Source: GIZ 2016

Summary of estimated TNA2015 costs for 34 LCs and NWSA Branches Source: KFW2016

Rapid assessment of the impacts of war on Water & energy services Sana’a

Primary water sources _ before and after 2011 Sana’a 2016 The percentage of users of water harvesting increased from 6% to 23%

Using Rain Water Harvesting Before and After 2011

Main sources of power (energy) Before 2011 After 2011

(A) People Fetching Water from Water Distribution Points ­­   (C) Newly Installed Wind Energy Station in Sana’a (D) Newly Installed Solar Panels in Sana’a ­­ (B) Woman Watering Newly Built WH Cistern, Khadeer District, aizz ­­  

Reasons led to the change of water and/or power (energy) sources

Thanks