Press Releases
U.S. officials discuss water crisis with Sana’a University students, faculty
October 24, 2009
The U.S. State Department’s Regional Environment, Science and Technology Officer, Mr. Manu Bhalla, visited Sana’a University on October 21 to conduct a roundtable with professors and students on strategies for managing Yemen’s water resources.
The university’s Water and Environment Center hosted the roundtable. The Center, founded in 1999 and led by Dr. Abdulla Babaqi, offers a master’s program on Integrated Water Resource Management. It currently provides consultancy services and undertakes applied research in the Yemeni and regional water sectors.
Bhalla discussed the global and local impacts of climate change, and focused on the emerging water crisis around the world and specifically in Yemen. The discussion with the students and faculty pointed to the importance of rationalizing water consumption in agriculture and using existing resources sustainably, and the importance of Yemen working with its neighbors and development partners to develop sound policies for water resource management. Bhalla reiterated the commitment of the U.S. government to provide training and other technical assistance to Yemen in environmental and water-related fields.