Crumbling Roads Compound Water Crisis for Taiz Residents

In Taiz province, Yemen, hiring a minibus from Ragem village market, about 70 km from Taiz city, has become a daily challenge for residents on the outskirts. Drivers often refuse to go into rocky mountainous areas because of the rough dirt roads, with only large 4-wheel-drive pickup trucks able to reach them, according to Al Jazeera.

The cost of hiring such a vehicle is three times the bus fare, forcing many residents to walk 6 km to the market. Abdullah al-Azazi, 31, said: "We pay double the normal price, but they still refuse. Only drivers from our village agree because they understand our suffering."

Around 7,600 people living in Ragem and neighboring hamlets regularly face transportation difficulties. Transporting supplies, including clean water, to settlements also faces many obstacles.

Self-Building Roads in Desperation

Taiz authorities say they lack the resources to pave roads, while humanitarian organizations have not responded. Three years ago, villagers launched their own initiative to repair transport infrastructure.

Ahmed Fuad, 26, a key volunteer in the project, said: "Three years ago, a group of young people in the village decided to pave the road themselves, based on donations from residents and small traders at the nearby market." They prioritized fixing the most dangerous sections, but about 500 meters of steep terrain still needs concrete.

To focus fundraising, Fuad and residents set up a WhatsApp group to track contributions from the community and business owners. "Initial donations were just 1,000 Yemeni riyals (0.64 USD), but later someone contributed up to 1 million riyals (640 USD)," Fuad recounted. Those without money contributed labor, significantly reducing labor costs.

"In less than two months, we widened and paved over 124 meters," Fuad said at the site. "As soon as the concrete dries, we will open this section to use and move on to the next phase." He believes the village youth can finish the entire road, but support from the government or aid organizations would make the work much easier.

Severe Water Crisis

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 14.4 million people in Yemen are in dire need of basic water and sanitation support. Dirt roads make transporting water to remote villages difficult, forcing people to walk for hours to fetch water.

At al-Rahaba displacement camp in Jabal Habashy district, more than 200 families once endured daily hardships to get clean water. Women and children walked 3 km carrying heavy water containers. The 20 liters they brought back were not enough for a family for a day.

Abdulaziz Shamsan, 44, a resident of al-Rahaba camp, recounted: "Going to fetch water took most of the time. They left home early in the morning, went again at noon, and a third time before sunset." After months of unsuccessful pleas, social activist Mohammed Mahyub visited the camp.

"Mahyub came two years ago, saw our situation, and didn't hesitate. The next day, he returned with a survey engineer, drilled a well, and equipped it with solar power, a tank, and distribution taps," Shamsan recalled. The well now serves around 300 displaced families and nearby households.

Community Movement Spreads

Mahyub, a teacher and social media activist in Taiz city, began his work after witnessing hundreds of people from three villages queuing around an old well. He shared the situation on Facebook and received strong support from friends and followers.

Through social media, Mahyub raised funds to build 20 hand-dug wells in three remote districts of Taiz, providing water to thousands of people. "Nothing is better than seeing people have clean water. Seeing children happy because they don't have to walk kilometers each day is reward enough," he said.

Similar campaigns are emerging across Yemen, such as in Hodeidah province, where activist Abdullatif al-Zailaai has drilled several wells for neglected communities.

Tight Budgets

Yemen's economy has been devastated since the 2015 war, leaving the government with almost no funds for essential public works. An official from the Taiz governor's office admitted that due to limited resources and urban priorities, local authorities currently have no plans to expand infrastructure to remote rural areas. However, the official praised community activities and called them an important model for public participation.

"Taiz is like other Yemeni provinces. Needs are huge, and the tight budget forces us to prioritize," the official said. "We work closely with humanitarian agencies on rural initiatives, but aid budgets are shrinking year by year."