Boy gets water from water truck
Yemen is fast running out of water. Some Yemenis have to buy water from water trucks that drive through the city. The people that can’t afford that must go to the public taps at the mosque’s. According to the 2004 Family and Health Survey, only 67% of the Yemeni population have access to improved water supply.
A Qat tree
Adding to the water crisis is the Qat tree, a slightly narcotic plant that around 70% of Yemeni men chew. A lot of water is used to grow Qat instead of being used for other crops. Qat farming, while having quite a few negative qualities, does produce jobs for a large amount of people. This is an important factor, considering Yemen’s extremely high unemployment rate.
The old city of San'a, capital of Yemen. Picture by the Virtual Tourist
The capital city of Yemen is San’a. The problems there are just as serious as anywhere else in Yemen. Some of the wells are being drilled to a depth of 800 to 1,000 meters, and require oil drilling equipment. Almost all the water comes from underground aquifers that are rapidly being depleted. The water levels are dropping around 65 feet a year. According to many Yemenis and outside specialists, Sana’s wells will dry out in 10 to 15 years.
The Yemen government is considering a desalination plant for seawater, but this is an expensive solution and may come too late. The only other option is to cut down on the agriculture industry and having to import even more food.
The country of Yemen
