UNOPS Yemen: Towards A Better Life: Yemen Emergency Electricity Access Project reaches remote villages of Zameh in Yemen

In Zameh subdistrict of the Al-Naderah district in Ibb Governorate, Yemen, fetching water used to be a daily ordeal for the people of Zameh. However, thanks to the WB-funded Yemen Emergency Electricity Access Project (YEEAP), their lives have changed significantly.

Muhammad Abda Ubaid, a resident of Zameh, says: "Women and children used to embark on a four-hour journey to fetch water from a distant well and bring it home. They started the journey as early as 3 a.m. to be one of the first arrivals and avoid the crowding at the well.”

In 2023, YEEAP brought about a significant change to Zameh village and neighbouring villages in Zameh subdistrict. UNOPS designed and installed multi-stage solar-powered water pumping systems to bring water to the households in the remote villages. Water is pumped from the well to a tank on one mountain, then relayed to a second tank on another mountain, and relayed to a third tank on a yet higher altitude. This approach ensures that several villages benefit from clean water supply.

"This is a blessing!" added Muhammad. "Today, water reaches our homes. Women and children no longer have to walk long distances to bring water – it's a dream coming true!"

Across Yemen, especially in rural and peri-urban areas, lack of reliable electricity hinders communities' access to clean water, and essential services. By harnessing solar energy, YEEAP supports Yemeni communities to have better access to electricity.

Under YEEAP phase I, the project powered 234 schools, 220 health centres, 40 water wells and 23 COVID-19 isolation units. Additionally, it provided 117,000 households with pico systems, benefiting approximately 3.2 million people.

Currently, YEEAP Phase II is underway and builds on the success of the first phase, expanding coverage to power more critical facilities and distributing pico systems for households.

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The story was published in the 2023 Humanitarian Programming in Yemen: Stories of Inspiration by  OCHA