With over 90% of major armed conflicts occurring within biodiversity hotspots between 1950 and 2000, it is no surprise that Socotra, with its unique ecosystem and endemic species like the Dragon Blood tree, finds itself engulfed in conflict fueling further destruction. The archipelago, consisting of Socotra and its neighbouring islands, harbours species found nowhere else on Earth, making it a globally significant hotspot for biodiversity.

While Socotra’s isolation has spared it from the direct ravages of Yemen’s civil war, the encroachment of foreign powers threatens to unravel its delicate balance. The strategic interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have brought devastation to this ecological marvel. Over the past six years, the UAE has pursued its ambitions in Yemen, consolidating control over Socotra as part of what experts have termed its “self-styled maritime empire.” This military occupation not only exacerbates the humanitarian crisis but also imperils Socotra’s fragile ecosystem.

Despite international recognition of Socotra’s ecological importance, ongoing conflict has hindered conservation efforts. The Dragon Blood tree, among the oldest surviving endangered forest communities globally, is famous for its bright red resin “Dragon’s Blood” and umbrella-shaped canopy. Endemic to the Socotra Archipelago in Yemen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these trees face near-extinction elsewhere. Over the last two decades, their population has substantially declined, endangering their existence.

UAE’s Military Activities on the Island

Funding for environmental protection has dried up, leaving native initiatives to save the Dragon Blood tree languishing. The Socotra Environmental Protection Authority, once a beacon of hope for conservation, now struggles to operate amidst the chaos of war. The conversion of the Authority’s building into a military headquarters by Saudi Arabia symbolizes the prioritization of conflict over conservation. Socotra’s residents witness their natural heritage being sidelined as the island becomes a pawn in geopolitical power struggles. 

The Independent reportedly found UAE building a military base, communications networks and tourist resorts in efforts to turn Socotra into ‘a permanent military outpost-cum-holiday resort’. In preparation for welcoming more Emirati visitors, many parts of the island have already been bulldozed to build holiday resorts and other tourist infrastructure. The island is a biodiversity hotspot, home to 700 endemic species, and 70 percent of its land is protected. These infrastructure projects went ahead without conducting environmental impact assessments, such as undertaking construction to expand the Hulaf Port, the only seaport to the Socotra island, of which the UAE reportedly has control now.

UAE-Israel Military Alliance in Socotra

The UAE’s alliance with Israel further endangers Socotra’s future, introducing new dynamics to an already volatile region. After the signing of the highly controversial Abraham Accords in 2020 solemnizing the normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel, Socotran locals witnessed an influx of Israeli ‘tourists’ on the islands, which later reports found to be Israeli military experts instead.    

In tandem, satellite imagery appeared in 2022 of a new mysterious military base on the island of Perim, another Yemeni island, displacing local fishermen and inhabitants. Similarly, in March 2024, a satellite image of yet another airstrip appeared on Yemen’s Abd-Al Kuri island, with “I Love UAE” written next to it with piles of dirt. Recent Google Earth satellite imagery shows the same airstrip labelled “US Air Base”. In light of these events, some have accused the UAE of establishing a military intelligence hub and missile defence system on the eco-fragile islands, which is also a crucial oil trading route, in partnership with Israel and the US. 

With waning international funding for conservation and UAE’s increasing military presence and touristic infrastructure development, the spectre of extinction looms larger for the Dragon Blood tree, revered as a symbol of Socotra’s resilience. The loss of this endemic tree would be not only an ecological tragedy but also a cultural one, erasing centuries of heritage tied to Socotra’s unique environment, reflecting yet another case of loss of sacred creation at the hands of a few humans in their greed for power, resources and dominance. 

Efforts to protect Socotra transcend borders and ideologies. It requires international cooperation to safeguard this environmental jewel for future generations. Diplomatic pressure must halt the archipelago’s militarization and ensure ongoing conservation efforts. Without collective action for the preservation of its rich biodiversity, including at a bare minimum advocating against the militarism advanced by UAE and allies, Socotra risks succumbing to human conflict and greed. Its fate symbolizes the broader struggle between conservation and exploitation, peace and conflict. 

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The war in Yemen has been identified as one of the worst man-made humanitarian crises in human history, killing at least 233,000 people, leaving 24 million people in need of emergency humanitarian assistance and protection and 13 million people in danger of starvation.

Environmental Damage From Saudi-Led War in Yemen

Yemen’s soil, water, air and plants have been destroyed by hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic chemicals released by explosives, landmines and air raids from the ongoing war. The impacts of the toxic debris in the environment across Yemen will be felt for generations to come.

As of 2022, more than 800,000 landmines have been collected from farmlands, wells, streams, schools and almost everywhere across Yemen. Yemeni officials are unable to provide a true assessment of the scale of this catastrophe with the ongoing and escalating war. 

Many water sources and farmlands across Yemen have been contaminated with toxic chemicals from landmines.

This has led to severe water and food shortages, causing malnutrition in millions of people, especially children.

Depletion of Water Reserves Leading to Absolute Water Scarcity

Experts have warned about Yemen’s water crisis since 2010, stating that its water reserves are projected to be depleted in two to three decades. The country could soon run out of water.

A country experiences water scarcity when its water reserves fall below 1,000 cubic meters (m³) per person, often termed the water poverty line, and absolute scarcity if the reserves fall below 500 m³. Alarmingly, Yemen’s freshwater reserves are merely 67 m³ per person (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Yemen’s Absolute Water Scarcity

Air Raids & Cholera Outbreaks in Yemen

The war has destroyed critical sanitation infrastructure, leading to disease outbreaks. One study found air raids from the ongoing war in Yemen have significantly contributed to the incidence of cholera outbreaks across the country.

Displacement of Vulnerable Communities

Amidst the ongoing war, Yemen’s challenges are compounded by the worsening effects of climate change, driving its people to seek sustenance, clean water, and shelter elsewhere. This war-climate nexus has forced vulnerable communities into migration, striving to escape the simultaneous burdens of war, climate change and environmental devastation.

Yemen’s dual crisis of war and climate change are disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, and uprooting entire communities from their homes across the country. 

References

• The World Bank Group (2021). Climate Change Knowledge Portal: Yemen. 
• The World Bank (2019). Renewable internal freshwater per capita (cubic meters). Website. 
• Anadolu Agency. (2021). Experts assess environmental harm of armed conflict in Yemen. Article
• Inkstick (2022). Yemen’s war could cause it to run out of water. Article 
• Conflict and Environment Observatory. (2021).Protected area conservation in Yemen’s conflict. Report.
• Tarnas, Maia C. and Al-Dheeb, Najwa and Zaman, Muhammad H. and Parker, Daniel M. (2023).  Impact of Air Raids on the Reported Incidence of Cholera in Yemen, 2016-2019. Article.
• United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2006). Water scarcity. Report. 
• Center for Civilians in Conflict. (2022). Risking the Future: Climate Change, Environmental Destruction, and Conflict in Yemen. Report.

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