Yemen’s valleys and farms are full of dangerous plastic waste

Wadi Dawan, located in Yemen's eastern Hadramout province, presents a stark contrast between its scenic appearance and environmental reality. From a distance, the valley appears pristine, with date palms lining a white wadi bed and mud-brick settlements scattered across rocky slopes. However, closer examination reveals extensive plastic contamination throughout the landscape, with waste accumulating in flood channels and the pervasive smell of burning refuse degrading air quality.

The valley, home to thousands of residents across numerous villages, has become a repository for plastic bags, bottles, food wrappers, and household waste. Farmers report that rubbish—including dead animals—accumulates in irrigation channels, blocking water flow and forcing them to manually clear debris before floods recede. This labor-intensive process poses health risks, as broken glass hidden within waste piles can cause injuries. After floodwaters subside, farmers must collect plastic bottles and bags from their fields before planting crops.

Local agricultural stakeholders describe the situation as critical. Yousef Abdullah, a 65-year-old farmer and orchard owner, expressed serious concern about the long-term consequences if the problem remains unaddressed. The contamination combines household waste with sewage discharge into the wadi bed, while large quantities of rubbish are dumped along roadsides in close proximity to residential areas.

The underlying causes stem from systemic infrastructure deficiencies. Many areas lack waste collection points entirely, and existing green rubbish bins along roads frequently overflow. Garbage collection services, intended to operate weekly, face disruption due to insufficient funding and vehicle maintenance issues. Residents, environmental advocates, and local officials attribute the growing crisis to the absence of proper waste management systems and limited public awareness regarding environmental and health risks associated with indiscriminate dumping.

Salem Raji, who leads the Ministry of Agriculture's Wadi Dawan office and conducts agricultural research, has initiated efforts to raise awareness about waste dumping impacts. His work includes meetings with local officials and engagement with local media to address the escalating environmental challenge.