Khat: Yemen’s crutch, chewed ever more in times of war

Social, economic, environmental and health impact

Sociologists have sought to understand the impact of Khat on users' behaviours. Some studies suggest that it bolsters social cohesion, helping to resolve issues through deliberation in so-called 'mini-parliaments'. Others point to its detrimental impact on families, as users often neglect their responsibilities, particularly on children's education.

Economically, Khat consumption is so prevalent across Yemen that it is a boon for farmers, with yields roughly three times more profitable than other crops. This impacts tax revenue and the circulation of money within the country, both in rural and urban areas. Importing Khat into Yemen is prohibited, which prevents the outflow of foreign currency.

There are environmental concerns, however. One worry is the soil contamination caused by the kind of fertilisers and chemicals that are used. Another concerns water. A recent study warned of depleting Yemen's groundwater resources to irrigate Khat farms, particularly in drier regions, where there are diminishing agricultural lands and a continuing trend of uprooting other productive cash crops such as coffee.

Two years ago, the International Committee of the Red Cross echoed the worry about groundwater depletion for Khat tree irrigation, saying that Khat cultivation "consumes more than 40% of Yemen's total renewable water resources and 32% of all groundwater withdrawals".

Yemen has a wider issue of water scarcity, with the UN noting that "war, blockade, and lack of investment in water infrastructure have left 17.8 million people in the country deprived of access to safe drinking water and sanitation services".

In terms of health, chewing Khat is now known to be linked to cardiovascular disease and upper digestive tract cancers, including of the mouth and throat. It can also lead to sexual dysfunction, in stark contrast to one of its purported effects.

Although war has led to most Yemenis' salaries falling, the Khat market continues to flourish. This has prompted concern about limited family resources being spent on Khat rather than on food. The UN calls Yemen's food crisis "the most severe globally," with millions facing the imminent prospect of famine.

To pay for the drug, an estimated 70% of the population—predominantly men—resort to bribery, theft, fraud, or other illicit activities. The phrase "comfort and calamity" is often used in relation to Khat, invoking both its consequences and the reason users use it.

Government acquiescence

Calamity or not, chewing Khat remains a core social activity, consumed either at home or in Khat gatherings, in part because of limited alternative activities—war having restricted the chance of other recreational pursuits such as cinema, theatre, and sport.

Cultural and social institutions have long tried to raise awareness of the hazards associated with Khat, but successive governments have been reluctant to impose limits on it. Instead, they have acquiesced to what is seen as a "force of habit" in tribal societies, where restrictions would be seen as infringements on personal freedom and violations of deeply entrenched social customs and traditions.

Farmers grappling with water scarcity and fuel shortages have felt compelled to initiate community-driven removals of Khat trees, replacing them with coffee and almond trees in regions such as Haraz, Raymah, and Ibb. But these initiatives have limited value and effectiveness.

In periods of war and crisis, Khat usage in Yemen tends to increase. In the south, where laws prior to the 1990 unification restricted Khat consumption to Thursdays and Fridays, the practice has proliferated. Most Khat is grown in the north, where the land is more productive, but some southern regions have also started cultivating it.

As the country's problems mount, many Yemenis find themselves with more time on their hands, meaning that the hours dedicated to Khat consumption have extended, in a practice often accompanied by smoking cigarettes and hookah pipes and consuming soft drinks.

Despite all the initiatives to monitor and evaluate the escalating risks associated with Khat during times of conflict, accurate data regarding its consumption and resulting health impact has been absent, in part because a decade of war has left Yemen's healthcare system on the verge of collapse.

Despite the lack of data, the incidence of ill health stemming from Khat consumption is thought to have increased. Even for those who can afford medical treatment abroad, leaving Yemen is difficult. However, burgeoning awareness about the dangers of Khat, mainly among the youth, gives reason to believe in a brighter future

The market remains strong. Despite the importation and consumption of Khat being banned in most countries, it is still smuggled out of Yemen after being dried and ground. Although other countries in East Africa such as Ethiopia and Kenya also export Khat, the drug has become synonymous with Yemen, affecting its global image.

Pursing a Khat-free Yemen currently seems impractical, particularly at a time of conflict. To address the Khat dilemma, the war must come to an end and the rebuilding of Yemen's state institutions must begin. To wean Yemen off this harmful plant will require no less than a cultural revolution. For that, the groundwork must be laid first.