Paris – AIJES
A new research report published by the Centre on Armed Groups, an independent research organization registered in Geneva, has revealed the growing role of armed groups in managing environmental crises and responding to climate change in Yemen, amid the deterioration of state institutions and more than a decade of armed conflict.
The report, released on October 26, 2026, indicates that armed groups in the governorates of Marib and Taiz have increasingly assumed environmental and public-service responsibilities traditionally carried out by civilian authorities, including regulating water consumption, responding to floods, and protecting local communities from natural disasters.
However, the report warns that the involvement of armed groups in environmental governance does not necessarily reflect a genuine commitment to climate adaptation. Instead, such activities are often driven by efforts to consolidate their authority and strengthen their legitimacy among local populations and the international community.
Significant Differences Between Government-Held and Houthi-Controlled Areas
The report highlights a clear contrast between areas controlled by Yemen’s internationally recognized government and those under the control of the Houthi movement in their approaches to international humanitarian and environmental organizations.
According to the findings, armed groups aligned with the internationally recognized government generally facilitate the activities of domestic and international organizations working on climate adaptation, partly motivated by their desire to maintain legitimacy among local communities and international partners.
By contrast, the report finds that distrust of international engagement in Houthi-controlled areas has significantly restricted efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
This disparity, the study suggests, demonstrates how political and military divisions directly affect the ability of international organizations to implement environmental and humanitarian programs, particularly in areas where functioning state institutions are absent.
Research Director: Climate Adaptation Is Possible Even Without a Functioning State
Albert Souza Mülli, Head of Policy at the Centre on Armed Groups and author of the report, said armed groups have become key actors in determining how Yemeni communities respond to climate change.
He explained that the research demonstrates that climate adaptation remains possible in Yemen even without a functioning central government, although the conditions that allow such initiatives to operate remain fragile and vulnerable to military developments.
Mülli noted that Houthi offensives following the collapse of the latest truce in July had reached the Taiz and Marib fronts, the two areas examined in the study.
He called on international donors and organizations working on climate-related issues to prepare for rapid changes on the ground and develop more flexible approaches to ensure the continuity of environmental and humanitarian programs.
Taiz: Water Crisis Deepens Amid Conflict and Blockade
The report devotes considerable attention to the environmental situation in Taiz governorate, where communities face mounting challenges related to water scarcity, flooding, and deteriorating infrastructure.
It notes that Houthi forces control key roads in and north of Taiz City and have, at various times, imposed full or partial blockades restricting the movement of residents, goods, and water supplies into government-controlled areas.
These restrictions, according to the report, have led to accusations that water has been used as a weapon of war.
The study found that armed group members in Taiz identified water scarcity and flooding as the most serious climate-related threats, both of which have intensified in recent years.
In response, local authorities have introduced measures to regulate water resources, including prohibiting the use of drinking water to irrigate qat, a plant widely cultivated and consumed in Yemen, and restricting the drilling of private wells.
The local council has also brought previously unregulated wells under the supervision of the General Water Corporation, requiring official authorization for new drilling operations.
According to the report, some armed groups assist in enforcing these regulations by monitoring water distribution and preventing the sale of water on the black market at inflated prices.
Marib: Displaced Communities Face Floods and Sandstorms
In Marib governorate, the report highlights the environmental dangers facing large displaced populations, particularly as heavy rainfall, flooding, and sandstorms increasingly threaten vulnerable settlements.
One respondent described a storm in 2024 that swept away or destroyed the tents of internally displaced families, leaving residents without shelter or possessions.
The report explains that the substantial expansion of displacement camps over the past twelve years has resulted in settlements being established in flood-prone areas and along natural floodwater routes, increasing the likelihood of human and material losses.
It notes that armed groups in Marib have established civil defense and rescue teams to assist communities during flooding emergencies.
Some groups have also imposed restrictions on unregulated construction in areas exposed to flooding in an effort to reduce risks to displaced families.
In rural areas, armed groups have assumed responsibilities for regulating groundwater extraction, including imposing fines or imprisonment for unauthorized well drilling.
The report further highlights their involvement in supporting mine-clearance activities and raising environmental awareness through social media, public signage, and community meetings.
War Intensifies Yemen’s Climate Vulnerability
The report identifies Yemen as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, increasing water scarcity, and more frequent flooding.
It explains that the conflict, which began in 2014, has severely damaged essential water infrastructure, reduced agricultural production, and forced large numbers of people from their homes.
The fragmentation of governance and the erosion of state authority have further weakened communities’ ability to withstand environmental shocks.
As government institutions have lost control over significant parts of the country, armed groups have increasingly taken over administrative, regulatory, and service-related functions previously performed by civilian authorities.
These developments have created additional challenges for international organizations, which must now navigate complex local governance arrangements where civilian institutions operate alongside, or under the influence of, armed actors.
Warning Against Excluding Communities in Conflict Zones
The report criticizes the predominantly state-centered approach adopted by international climate adaptation funding mechanisms, warning that this model risks excluding communities living beyond effective government control.
It calls for the development of practical mechanisms to ensure that environmental assistance reaches conflict-affected populations while managing the security, operational, and reputational risks associated with engaging armed groups.
The study notes that the willingness of armed groups aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government to cooperate with local and international organizations creates opportunities for climate adaptation initiatives, particularly when such cooperation also serves their interests in strengthening authority and legitimacy.
Environmental Governance Becomes a Matter of Political and Military Influence
The report’s findings shed light on another dimension of Yemen’s complex crisis: the transformation of natural resource management and disaster response into areas where humanitarian priorities intersect with political and military interests.
While the involvement of armed groups in certain environmental activities may help protect civilians and reduce the consequences of natural disasters, the connection between these activities and the consolidation of political influence raises questions about their sustainability and the possibility of independent civilian oversight.
The report concludes that climate adaptation remains achievable even in areas governed through hybrid arrangements, provided that international actors understand local power dynamics and effectively manage the risks associated with implementing such programs.
Ultimately, the findings demonstrate that Yemen’s environmental challenges can no longer be treated as development issues separate from the ongoing conflict.
Instead, they have become directly connected to the future of state institutions, the ability of international humanitarian organizations to reach vulnerable populations, and the resilience of local communities facing overlapping crises.
Source: Centre on Armed Groups, press release dated October 26, 2026, concerning the role of armed groups in climate and environmental governance in Yemen’s Marib and Taiz governorates.