Yemen: Life-saving nutrition for women and children

How a water project transforms a deserted village to a bustling community

In the Al Dhale’e Governorate, in the southwest of Yemen, every day can be a fight for survival. Almost half of the healthcare facilities in the district are inoperative or run at a reduced capacity. This is because of reduced staffing and a lack of essential medicines and supplies, and urgent action needed. In the remote mountainous areas of Al Dhale’e, people live in particularly hard conditions, travelling long distances to receive healthcare. The downfall of the economy has placed additional pressure on Yemenis.

An eager young girl who endeavours to increase community awareness about the importance of hygiene while cleaning the camp with her friends.

Water in Yemen is scarce. Less than half of the population, and less than ten per cent of internally displaced persons in Yemen have access to safe water and sanitation1. We had weak infrastructure prior to the war. Now, during and after the conflict, we have damaged infrastructure that has affected access to water and sanitation across the country.

In a mountainous region of Yemen, water weakens bones. It deforms. It causes life-changing health concerns and financial burdens. It is one more tragedy for the Yemeni people who have already been through the unfathomable.

In Yemen, water is scarce. Before the current conflict, Yemen was considered one of the world’s most severely water-stressed countries. This situation has worsened. Less than half of the population has access to a clean water source, with severe effects on people’s health, agriculture, and livelihoods. For many communities in Yemen, drinking unsafe water is the only choice, as safe drinking water is inaccessible and unaffordable.

Bringing health and nutrition to a mountain village in Yemen