Food, water, health: three chalenges for the Yemenis

After more than 3 years of war, life in Yemen looks more like survival. Every day, families struggle to find food, water or health care. Three daily challenges that our teams are trying to improve.

By Philippe Bonnet, Country Director

ACCESS TO WATER HAS BEEN DESTROYED

The situation before the conflict was already not brilliant, especially in the south of the country – less developed – and in rural areas, without being catastrophic. But years of conflict have contributed to infrastructure attrition. On one hand, in some areas where the fighting took place, infrastructure was destroyed by bombing (by both sides) and fighting. The combatants did not hesitate to use some of these infrastructures for military purposes. Drinking water distribution systems have been particularly affected, as have health facilities and schools, for example. On the other hand, the resources available to the State are mainly allocated to the war effort in detriment of maintenance, upkeep and even the coverage of infrastructure operating costs. This attrition of infrastructure therefore affects not only the combat zones but the whole country. Finally, the functioning of these infrastructures is still based on thermal energy production systems, requiring fuel whose cost is constantly increasing. Today, the functioning of infrastructures depends largely on the contribution of NGOs, including SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL. One of the strategies implemented by SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is the replacement of thermal engines by solar pumping systems.

A DESTROYED HEALTH SYSTEM

The public health system has been severely affected by the conflict: destruction of infrastructure, unpaid staff, medicines and lack of equipment. Many of the health centres and hospitals are now able to operate only with the support of NGOs. In large cities, the private health sector remains more or less functional, but many households cannot access it due to lack of resources. Rural areas and less accessible areas certainly face the most critical situations, particularly because many NGOs are reluctant to access these areas where assistance is certainly more expensive with populations scattered over large geographical areas. Finally, it is important not to forget to mention the situation of the displaced. There are 3 million of them in the country whose access to healthcare is more than uncertain. Our teams are trying to reach these populations by supporting health centres (on the water, hygiene and sanitation components) in rural areas. But raising funds for these activities, which are less in the spotlight because they are not directly related to the fighting, is difficult.