ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how extreme water shortages have paved the way for the escalation of sectarian violence in Yemen. Various explanations have been provided for the rise of sectarianism in the Middle East. Yemen is often described as a conflict-prone, underdeveloped country stretched across an expanse of scorched earth. In the pre-war period, the Yemeni government regularly struggled to tackle annual budget shortfalls. The strategic blockade of humanitarian aid on behalf of both extremists and the Saudi-led interventionist forces further exacerbated the water plight of Yemenis caught in the middle. Droughts and scarce water resources have characterised the Yemeni climate for centuries. Pressing environmental problems coupled with water mismanagement have made Yemen one of the most unstable countries in the region. Although the Yemeni conflict has been portrayed as a sectarian conflict with regional dimensions, its causes are mainly rooted in the drastic ecological problems that were devastating the national economy.
