Chapter
9:
Case
studies
in
Ta’izz
9.7
Overall
analysis
Ta’izz
case
studies
The
cases
studied
in
the
Ta’izz
area
illustrate
that
water
disputes
occurring
due
to
random
well-‐drilling
and
the
transfer
of
water
from
one
area
to
another
for
qat
irrigation.
The
cases
studied
indicate
an
alarming
increase
in
disputes
regarding
water
over
the
past
three
years.
Interviewees,
including
conflicting
parties,
overwhelmingly
agreed
that
lack
of
rain
and
the
deterioration
in
Governmental
function,
as
well
as
the
security
situation
over
this
period
have
triggered
the
conflicts.
The
conflicts
are
a
manifestation
of
a
series
of
structural
factors
that
reinforce
one
other.
This
includes
population
growth
and
competition
over
increasingly
scarce
water
coupled
with
a
lack
of
informal
and
formal
traditions
to
regulate
water
use.
Poor
Government
capacity,
lack
of
coordination
between
central
and
local
government
authorities,
centralization,
ambiguous
laws,
and
lack
of
policies
to
address
water
problems
are
also
key
factors.
All
interviewees
agree
that
the
problems
escalated
because
of
overconsumption
of
water
to
irrigate
qat
farms.
They
all
agree
that
qat
is
a
major
problem
threatening
water
resource
in
their
areas.
In
the
absence
of
clear
regulations
for
water
use
and
enforcement
of
these
regulations,
disputants
seem
to
be
stuck
in
a
cycle
of
competition
for
water.
Those
who
need
water
for
drinking
and
home
use,
particularly
ordinary
citizens,
seem
to
be
more
vulnerable,
compared
to
those
who
arewell-‐connected
to
power
holders.
The
latter
group
actually
seems
to
benefit
from
it.
Attempts
to
resolve
the
conflicts
by
Government
authorities
are
temporary,
ad
hoc
and
coercive
in
nature.
The
root
causes
of
the
conflicts
remain
completely
unaddressed.
According
to
the
general
secretary
of
Almaafer
local
councils:
“Water
disputes
are
sensitive
and
they
escalate
too
quickly.
Disasters
are
coming
our
way
if
nothing
is
done
about
it
soon”.
Role
of
women
In
all
cases
from
Ta’izz
area
the
field
researchers
observe
a
general
pattern
of
women
who
have
no
specific
rights
when
it
comes
to
water.
This
is
in
stark
contrast
to
the
fact
that
women
have
more
responsibilities
than
men
when
it
comes
to
water.
Women
are
responsible
for
securing
water
for
home
and
drinking
use.
During
droughts
women
need
to
travel
long
distances
to
fetch
water,
sometimes
using
donkeys
and
most
of
the
time
carrying
water
containers
themselves.
Women
also
help
work
and
fertilize
the
land,
remove
grass