World Bank Brings Electricity Back to the Largest Hospital in Yemen

The current crisis in Yemen has placed enormous pressure on the country’s population. Four out of five people in the country need humanitarian assistance. Over 1 million people have been infected by cholera. More than 350,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition. Over 2 million people have been internally displaced due to the fighting. Simply put, life has become very difficult for millions of Yemenis.

To help address this crisis, the World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA), and in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), launched a project to help Yemenis by restoring critical urban services. The project targets a number of Yemen’s cities hardest hit by the conflict, where the level of public services have significantly deteriorated. The US$150 million Yemen Integrated Urban Services Emergency Project (YIUSEP) aims to restore access to key services in such as water and sanitation, transport, energy, municipal services, and solid waste management.

People of Yemen need our support during this difficult time. Recovery of basic services beyond emergency response is a key element of World Bank engagement in Yemen,” says Raja Bentaouet Kattan, World Bank Group Country Manager for Yemen.

In response, the World Bank and UNOPS worked together to install solar panels on the roof of the hospital and changed six thousand indoor light bulbs to more energy efficient LED lamps. In addition, five solar powered water heaters were installed to reduce the reliance on diesel-fueled generators. The team also sought to improve the security situation around the hospital by installing better street and outdoor lighting. This intervention would help reduce hospital’s reliance on diesel based electricity generators.

Sources:

TWB

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