A report recently publicized by the Yemeni ministry of planning and development has shown that the local per capita share of water in Yemen does not exceed 150 cubic meters per annum. This amount is extremely low, compared to an average of 1,250 cubic meters in the Middle East and Africa, and 7,500 cubic meters per capita throughout the rest of the world.
This report, published in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, concluded that the water crisis in Yemen is a result of the inefficiency of the local water supply systems. Presently, there is a 30 percent loss of water due to the inefficiency of local water supply systems.
Only 82 percent of metropolitan regions receive a regular supply of water, while in rural regions, where about 75 percent of Yemen’s inhabitants live, the situation is much worse, with water supplies reaching only 12 percent of these areas.
The ministry of planning and development revealed that in order to assure adequate water supply for the country’s rural residents, the government will have to invest $600 million in water projects over the next 20 years. There is currently $120 million invested in ongoing projects, out of a total $400 million that has already been allocated for water supplying projects.
The World Bank has announced that it will contribute $200 million toward water projects in various districts over the upcoming five years. In addition, the German government declared that it intends to invest DM 120 million in water projects throughout Yemen over the next two decades. –(Albawaba-MEBG)
