Public PhD Viva-Voce Examination of Mr. Khaled Hussein Abdullah Tahesh, from the Department of Geography and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Mr. Khaled Hussein Abdullah Tahash has been awarded the PhD Degree from the Department of Geography and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Arts & Humanities – Sana’a University, majoring in Environmental Geography. His dissertation, entitled “Integrated Environmental Management of Solid Waste in the Capital City of Sana’a,” was defended on Saturday, 23 Sha’aban 1446 Hijri, corresponding to February 22, 2025.

The Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
1. Prof. Mohammed Ahmed Hamoud Mayas, Internal Examiner, Sana’a University, Chair.
2. Prof. Abdulwali Mohsen Al-Arshi, Main Supervisor, Sana’a University, Member.
3. Prof. Mohammed Hazam Saleh Al-Ammari, External Examiner, Dhamar University, Member.

The dissertation aimed to evaluate the implementation of integrated environmental management in Sana’a City, encompassing various residential areas, medical institutions, commercial and industrial establishments, workshops, and educational institutions. The study emphasized identifying methods, techniques, and approaches for managing solid waste in the municipality, highlighting the latest trends in waste management, the efforts of relevant authorities, and the challenges encountered. It proposed solutions based on clear strategies and standards to manage waste efficiently, transforming it into a usable resource.

Key findings of the dissertation included:
1. A positive correlation between the average income of individuals and the quantity of solid waste generated by residents of the municipality.
2. An absence of a comprehensive environmental management system for solid waste in the municipality, underscoring the weakness of the current management.
3. A growing lack of environmental awareness among residents and waste management workers, leading to escalating waste issues.
4. The accumulation of solid waste in the municipality contributes to the spread of diseases among residents.

The researcher recommended the following:
1. Employing a greater number of sanitation workers in the municipality to manage the large volume of solid waste, preserve its aesthetic appearance, protect its environment, and ensure the health of its residents, in line with its historical development, cultural and commercial significance, and its central geographical location in Yemen, as the political and administrative capital of the Republic of Yemen.
2. Raising environmental awareness among residents about the dangers of solid waste accumulation on the municipality’s aesthetic appearance, environmental safety, and residents’ health.
3. Ensuring that health institutions properly collect and promptly dispose of their waste using scientifically sound methods, given its significant health risks and environmental contamination potential.
4. Establishing suitable and safe sites for waste disposal through landfilling and recycling, including sanitary landfills outside Sana’a City in accordance with global planning standards, along with setting up specialized recycling facilities, particularly for plastic, metal, and glass waste that can be reused.

The Viva-Voce was attended by several academics, researchers, students, and several colleagues and family members of the researcher.