Illness and other problems abound as streams becomes big dumping zone Sick of the polluted Wadi Bana [Archives:2002/18/Health]

BY YEMEN TIMES STAFF
A cry is being heard from Wadi Bana. Its a cry for help, for understanding that its environment, its very life, is being threatened by a variety of pollution, including waste oil dumped by area shop owners and industries.
Dr.Fawzi Al-Qadri of Al-Jazeerah clinic commented on the issue, noting A drop of burning oil can pollute 12 liter of inside water. Guess how big the disaster is when tons of oil is poured every year in the stream from which poor villagers drink directly with their animals? As a doctor I can tell you that patients have intestinal parasites, hepatitis, hypertension and food poisoning. And its increasing daily. Special centers receive increasing number of patients with cancer.
Area resident Ahmed Al-Bahhal notes the problem:
More than ten years ago we found that our beans and potatoes diseased, and there were new ulcers on the legs of children who swam in the stream. Diseases like diarrhea and liver problems increased.
We came up the reason of the polluted river. It has been polluted by sewage of Saddah. Workshops and waste materials of pharmacies poured in Wadi Bana have made it worse.
Along the Wadi, which comes from Kitab springs and flows into Arabian sea about 200 km away, people used to make use of the water for drinking and for irrigation. As a result, people and animals grew sick. Animals weakened and the majority died as a result of the polluted water. Later animals refused to drink such water as they saw a layer of oil floating on the surface. Soil also has been affected, for many plants like pomegranates have no longer been planted.
Al-Bahhal told the district director, and a team from Sanaa visited the area and suggested to establish stores or depots to contain waste oil.
Were waiting for the first steps, hoping that it wont take forever, he said.
He said since most people dont know much about protecting the environment, a society education people was formed.
Mr. Abdul-Majeed Mohammed Al-Qufaili, the general director of Nadirah and head of the local council said there have been meetings in the local council and schools to draw peoples attention to the pollution problem and its negative results on health and the environment.
He said shop owners have been told they cant pour oil on the ground, or throw it in the stream, but they need to keep such oil in barrels. They made a promise to do so.
Also, we held campaigns to clean the town of plastic bags and unbreakable objects, he said.
And those who dont follow the rules?
We will apply all the laws and instructions to keep the environment clean, said Al-Qufaili.
I assure you that we are doing our best to show people the problem, said Miss Najeeba Al-Mamari, the general secretary of the local council in Nadira.
As for unbreakable materials, we told offices in Saddah to collect waste oil in cement stores built on Environment Health Projectors account. It was agreed that empty cans, plastic bags and unbreakable garbage will be sent to Yarim where there is a center for collecting those waste materials from Saddah, Nadira Raddhmah, Qafar and Kitab.
She also noted there is now a society being founded for protecting the environment, to educate people and make clean stream. That will be Wadi Bana Society For Environment Protection.
Still, car drivers continue to wash their cars in the stream, spots of oil float on water, heaps of garbage lay in the middle of area farms and many women wash dirty clothes with their children swimming in the stream.
Pumps are also pouring waste oil into the stream.
People interviewed in the area complain about teeth pains, the childrens lack of health and the damaged plantations.
Mohammed Al-Ghazali, an old man, said he lost his teeth as he drank such water for 15 years and that he was afraid that his sons would face the same.
He also said that a man went to America to have his teeth treated and spent $8,000 to get artificial ones.
Abdu Hial Al-yajoory said Yesterday I was injured by a piece of glass while I was working on my farm. That was because of waste materials thrown in the torrent. he shouted. You see this polluted water and soil. How can we offer healthy food?
Finally villagers of Duroom Al-Zamazmah said they adjure the governor of Ibb to get a fast solution to this horrible disaster.


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