Yemen

Integrated Context
Yemen’s environmental crisis is inseparable from conflict, economic collapse, and the erosion of public systems. Water scarcity, groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and drought were already structural challenges before the war; years of conflict have deepened them by damaging infrastructure, weakening institutions, and undermining agricultural recovery. Water remains the central strategic issue. In many areas, aquifers are overdrawn, service networks are damaged or poorly maintained, and households face rising costs for basic supply. Climate change is expected to intensify heat stress and rainfall variability, further reducing agricultural productivity and rural resilience. Because water insecurity affects both livelihoods and public health, adaptation in Yemen must be framed around service restoration, efficient irrigation, low-cost renewable energy, and support for local systems operating under severe constraint.