Case Study of National Water Conflict: Yemen

Question 1

What was the conflict over?

Answer 1

Failure of political transitions following Arab Springs?

Question 2

What was the water’s role in the conflict?

Answer 2

• Rural-urban disparity in water access heightened discontent
• Primary product dependent rural areas disapprove of government water saving policies that deter cash-crop production and control water extraction
• Water used as a strategic tactic: both Houthi and Saudi forces have blocked delivery of aid/ destroyed water sources to exert control