Yemen is facing an impending water shortage.  Saana, the capital, is most prone for disaster because of its rapid growth.  The water shortage is further compounded because of the contamination in the nation’s limited supply of drinking water.

Yemen is a dry land.  The country estimates that it only obtains about 2,500 million cubic meters (MCM) of fresh water a year.  However, the country’s demand for freshwater is 3,200 MCM a year creating a 700 MCM yearly deficit.  This deficit makes the nation vulnerable to drought and possible famine, because of the inaccessibility of drinking water.  For example, a well in the Yemen must be from 600-1200 meters deep, whereas wells in other gulf nations are only 200 meters deep. The limited water supply creates a looming problem.

Sanaa’s rapid growth exacerbates the shortage.  The capital city’s population is growing at a rate near 7-8% per year.  In 1975, the city only had 175,000 residents in 1975.  Currently, two million residents live in the city.  The city’s infrastructure, especially regarding water, has not adjusted to the city’s growth.  For example according to IRIN, only 15-25% of the city households get drinking water from the public water supply network and use the public sanitation system.  The rest of the households rely on private vendors for their water supply. 

Another problem is contamination.  The World Health Organization believes that only 50% of the Yemen’s water supplies are safe.  According to the Yemen Observer, over 75% of the 20 million Yemenis are exposed to water borne diseases because of contaminated water.  A Yemeni parliamentary report stated that 20,000 children die from water related illnesses every year in Yemen, which is 50% of all child related deaths in Yemen.  The most common causes of death from water related diseases are diarrhea, malaria or typhoid.  The contamination is usually caused by the human and factory waste. 

This problem has not been adequately addressed by the Yemeni government.  The nation is facing an impending shortage of water where Yemen will have to rely heavily on imported water.  This will place undue pressure on an already struggling people, which may force many to choose to drink contaminated water because they cannot afford clean water.

IRIN.  YEMEN: Rapid urbanisation threatening capital’s water supplies.  14 August 2007.

Yemen Times.  Water in Yemen …….Reduction and pollution. 29 June 2005. 

Yemen Observer. Contamination continues to plague Yemen’s drinking water.  28 July 2007.