Socotra, a jewel of biodiversity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, now faces a critical challenge: access to drinking water. Located at the crossroads of marine and atmospheric currents in the Indian Ocean, Socotra depends on a fragile hydrological balance, which is now threatened by the cumulative effects of climate change.

Traditionally, the people of Socotra relied on natural springs, wells, shallow groundwater, and rainwater harvesting to meet their daily needs. But in recent decades, rainfall has become scarcer, more irregular, and often more intense. Droughts are becoming more severe, while tropical cyclones—once rare—now strike the archipelago with increasing frequency and intensity, causing flooding, soil erosion, and groundwater salinization.

Many rural communities are forced to travel long distances to collect water that is often unsafe to drink, with direct consequences for their health and food security.

Climate change also exacerbates inequalities: the most isolated, poorest, and most vulnerable communities—those dependent on pastoral and agricultural activities—are the first to be affected. Water scarcity calls into question the resilience of ecosystems and the survival of certain food crops.

In this context, several approaches should be considered: the implementation of more efficient rainwater harvesting and storage systems, the strengthening of local expertise in sustainable water management, and the development of decentralized technical solutions (solar desalination, filters, etc.).