IOM and KSrelief Inaugurate USD 2.25 Million Water Project to Improve Access to Safe Water in Ma’rib, Yemen

Ma’rib, Yemen – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), inaugurated a $2.25 million water supply project, aimed at improving access to safe water for displaced persons and host communities in Ma’rib. 

The project will benefit about 50,000 people—including displaced families and host communities—in Al Sowayda and surrounding displacement camps: Batha'a Almil, Saylat Almil, Jumailan, Hawsh Aljamea'a Site, as well as Aljufainah displacement camp (Sector 10), and Bin Aboud–Alsiana neighbourhood. 

Access to safe water remains a critical challenge in Ma’rib, particularly in areas hosting large numbers of displaced families. Recent evictions have resulted in secondary displacement to sites such as Batha'a Almil and Saylat Almil, straining already limited water resources and heightening tensions over access to water. The intervention contributes to reducing water scarcity and mitigating water-related tensions under a “Water for Peace” approach. It also reflects the joint efforts of KSrelief and IOM to support Yemeni authorities in strengthening the transition from humanitarian response to more sustainable, development-oriented solutions. 

The project includes drilling a new borehole, installing a hybrid pumping system, constructing elevated water storage tanks, and expanding water pipeline networks. It also supports the rehabilitation of existing water systems in Bin Aboud–Alsiana neighbourhood. WASH committees and local authorities will also receive training to strengthen operation and maintenance capacities and ensure sustainable service delivery. 

“This intervention addresses urgent water needs in one of the most displacement-affected governorates in Yemen,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM Chief of Mission in Yemen. “By strengthening water systems in Ma’rib, we are supporting both access to essential services and efforts to reduce tensions linked to scarce resources.” 

The inauguration ceremony, held at the project site in the Bin Aboud–Alsiana neighborhood, was attended by the Deputy Governor of Ma’rib Dr. Abdurabh Ali Mefath; KSrelief’s Ma'rib Office Manager Abdulrahman Al-Saiari; and representatives from KSrelief, the National Water and Sanitation Authority, the General Authority for Rural Water Supply Projects, the Executive Unit, and the Environmental Office. Representatives from OCHA and the International Committee of the Red Cross were also present. 

All attending partners and authorities expressed satisfaction with the project and highlighted its importance in improving access to essential services and supporting stability in displacement-affected communities. 

Implemented in close coordination with the local authorities and partners, the intervention is expected to improve access to safe and clean water, reduce water-related tensions, strengthen local ownership and sustainability, bolster public health and hygiene conditions, and enhance resilience among displaced populations. 

KSrelief remains a key humanitarian partner in Yemen, supporting interventions across the water, health, shelter, food security, and education sectors. 

For more information, please contact: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int