representative of UNICEF to discuss urgent measures should be taken to fight the excessive fluoride in drinking water in the district and its effect on people, particularly children.

The meeting approved supplying villages of Mackola, Shasan and Sheian in the district with fluoride-free drinking water.

According to a report presented to the meeting, laboratory tests confirmed that water in such villages contains high level of fluoride, 3-6.5 mgs in each liter, and that its bad effects started
to appear among habitants especially children like discolored teeth
and falling them and carved bones.

The meeting also decided to test other drinking water wells in the area, putting warning posters near wells whose water is not suitable for drinking, providing households with filters and warning people of referring to concerned bodies before digging new water wells so
that such bodies can first test water.

Eng. Sami Abu Bakr Said, director of water and environment in the UNICEF, said the organization would offer a technical support for fighting the excessive level of fluoride in water.

Some studies, conducted by the Public Authority for Rural Water, found out that drinking water in Sana'a, Ibb, Taiz, Dhale and Dhamar drink water with high percentage of fluoride, limited by the World Health Organization (WHO) between 0.5- 1.5 milligrams in each liter
of water.

The studies say that the deepest people dig for water, the most rate of fluoride they get.