Yemen is facing one of the most dramatic water management challenges in the world. Heavy groundwater extraction has led to a very dangerous situation with the water table currently falling around the country by about 2 meters a year. Much of this water is going towards agriculture.

Tashbaan is a community of 14 village areas located in the central highlands region of the country. It is in this farming community where Operation Mercy is leading its initiative called Water for All. Water scarcity in Tashbaan has had a drastic effect on the local economy which is primarily based on agriculture. The low water supply and resulting lack of effective sanitation and personal hygiene have contributed to health issues, including high incidence of malaria and diarrhoea.

Water for All is a multi-faceted pilot project in the area of water supply and sanitation, including a focus on creative methods to harvest rainfall, techniques to implement more efficient means of using that water, low-cost filters to make that water clean and safe for drinking, and motivational programs to encourage the community to create their own systems of proper waste disposal. Because sustainability is a key factor and the community cannot 'create' water, its only long-term solution is to use the limited water provided in the most efficient way possible. Altogether, these represent a holistic focus on the community’s water needs and use.