Yemeni Environment Jeopardized [Archives:1999/26/Health]
June 28 1999
By: Fatma Abed Awadh
Maybe there isn’t much we can do about the environment on our own, but if we work together and each do a little, we can make a change.
Let us look around us and see if we are really aware of our environment
Garbage:
Sewage:
Nearly every street in our cities and towns has sewage over-flowing onto the main roads and the surrounding areas. Acids are emanated into the air. Detergents and cleaning agents are the largest group of products containing chemical substance, and they are allowed to flow into the streets after we use them. There should be a proper drainage system, and ways of disposing this waste.
Seasonal Floods from Rain:
The Government should try to build covered trenches with non-porous stones to trap the water for irrigation. A good example is neighboring Oman, where they save much rain water through-out the year for irrigation and other uses in this way.
Pesticides and Fertilizers:
The Ministry of Agriculture should check the types of pesticides and fertilizers entering Yemen, because our farmers will buy whatever they find in the market that is cheap. Farmers should be alerted about how to use these dangerous chemicals with care, and what quantity to use. Otherwise, misuse of pesticides and fertilizers can cause disasters for everyone.The run-off of Pesticides residue from farmlands with rain or irrigation can damage drinking water and the soil.
Cars and disposing of used oil from cars:
Many cars are really too old to be on the roads anymore. Many buses, trucks and construction machines use diesel and emanate poisonous gases which we inhale from the air. Cars cause a lot of noise, emit nitric oxides (responsible for acid rain) and other toxic gases which are responsible for polluting the air.
Many of us can see the used oil from cars near most Petrol stations and Garages, spilled out onto the ground. This should be properly disposed and not poured anywhere on the ground, as it spoils the ground water and soil. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are poisonous and are responsible for the “diesel” smell. Reducing the trucks that use diesel, especially where there are large population centers, would be good.
Waste Disposal from Factories and Industries:
Industries should implement cleaner technologies and environmental management. It would be nice to have an Environmental Protection Agency that could force Law-breakers to pay a fine for not disposing of their waste properly.
Wild Cats and Dogs
There are so many wild cats and dogs these days, especially in Sana’a. Many of us cannot sleep peacefully because of their noise. The Municipality should eradicate as many of them as possible, as they can be a great source of diseases such as rabies from the dogs and skin diseases from the cats, as they feed on garbage and roam wildly.
Planting of Trees:
Trees, especially in our city Sana’a are “the Lungs of Society” I feel bad when people cut down beautiful trees just for the sake of cutting them down. We should try to plant more trees, as they are the only source of increasing oxygen in Sana’a and should be encouraged all over the country. Many young people keep dreaming of when we will up-root the Qat shrubs and plant coffee trees instead. This would help in bringing the much needed hard currency and be a way to rid our society of this evil plant.
Overall cleanliness:
Our local television should try to address the public on the dangers of throwing garbage in the wrong places. I keep thinking what would happen to a child or anyone who walks on a used syringe needle if its contaminated with HIV blood or Hepatitis. Deadly diseases could be contacted by accident this way.
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