1. 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
4th Arab Water Week 2017
Dead Sea, Jordan
March 2017

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

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

4. Yemen & Water
FAO 2013

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

6. 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 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

7. Public Water and sanitation Services

8. Public Water and sanitation Utilities
Groundwater

9. Political Unrest _ 2011 demonstration & Onwards

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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.

14. 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

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

16. Source: GIZ 2016

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

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

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

20. Using Rain Water Harvesting Before and After 2011

21. Main sources of power (energy)
Before After 2011

22. (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 ­­

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

24. Thanks