[27/07/2025 01:54]

ADEN-SABA

The Minister of Water and Environment Engineer Tawfiq al-Sharjabi discussed Sunday with a delegation from the World Bank proposed projects aimed at enhancing the capacities of the water sector in Yemen and improving infrastructure and services provided to citizens.

The meeting, attended by the Deputy Minister of Water and Environment Mujahid Bin Afrar, covered the integrated management and early warning project, which aims to enhance readiness and response to climate change and emergency environmental phenomena, along with an infrastructure project that includes rehabilitating water and sewage networks and improving the operational efficiency of sector facilities in several governorates.

The two parties also discussed a water desalination project and the importance of expanding sustainable desalination technologies as an alternative source to cover water shortages, especially in coastal areas with severe water scarcity.

A detailed presentation was given on the severe water crisis facing Taiz Governorate, outlining the accumulated challenges in the city's water basin and the reasons that have exacerbated the crisis in recent years due to population pressure, decreased funding sources, and the stalling of some vital projects.

The Minister emphasized the importance of partnership with the World Bank in supporting strategic projects that contribute to improving water and environmental services, noting that the ministry prioritizes integrated and sustainable projects that enhance institutional resilience and serve the most affected areas, especially in light of current economic and humanitarian challenges.

Al-Sharjabi stated that the meeting represented an important opportunity to discuss urgent national needs in the water sector, stressing the need to accelerate technical coordination to complete the necessary studies and move to the actual implementation phase as soon as possible.

For its part, the World Bank delegation affirmed the institution's commitment to enhancing cooperation with the Yemeni government and the Ministry of Water and Environment, indicating that the bank views the water sector as one of the vital sectors of utmost priority in support and recovery plans.

The delegation praised the efforts made by the ministry despite the exceptional circumstances, confirming the bank's readiness to provide technical and financial support for projects with direct and sustainable impact, particularly in the areas of water resource management, desalination, and building early warning systems.

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