This photo shows a flooded street in Sanaa, Yemen, Aug. 16, 2024. The United Nations said on Thursday that severe flooding in Yemen has affected over 180,000 people since early August, prompting it to call for a 4.9-million-U.S. dollar aid to enhance emergency response efforts. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)
ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations said on Thursday that severe flooding in Yemen has affected over 180,000 people since early August, prompting it to call for a 4.9-million-U.S. dollar aid to enhance emergency response efforts.
In a joint statement, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Program (WFP) highlighted the dire situation in Yemen, where catastrophic rainfall and flooding have exacerbated the suffering of families already grappling with poverty, hunger, and ongoing conflict.
The statement indicated that hardest-hit areas include the provinces of Hodeidah, Hajjah, Saada, and Taiz, where flash floods have swept away homes, shelters, and personal belongings. In Hodeidah alone, more than 50,000 people have been displaced, with the number expected to rise in the coming days.
Enshrah Ahmed, UNFPA representative to Yemen, emphasized the severity of the situation, saying, "The devastating floods have increased people's needs, which are tremendous."
UN agencies have mobilized quickly, with Rapid Response Mechanism teams delivering emergency aid to over 80,000 people within 72 hours of the floods. The aid included ready-to-eat food rations, hygiene items, and women's sanitary products.
The crisis is further complicated by damaged roads and the displacement of landmines and unexploded ordnance from conflict areas to civilian zones, making it challenging for aid teams to reach affected families.
Forecasts have predicted torrential rains to continue into September, potentially worsening the already critical situation. The UN agencies stressed that the requested 4.9 million U.S. dollars is crucial for scaling up and expanding the emergency response in the coming weeks and months.
Yemen has been grappling with an unusually severe rainy season since March, resulting in widespread devastation across multiple governorates. The heavy rains have led to significant loss of life and extensive material damage throughout the country.
According to a statement released Sunday by the Executive Unit for the Management of Displaced Persons Camps in Yemen, the death toll from these torrential rains has reached 61.
The ongoing crisis has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, a country that has been struggling with protracted conflict, economic instability, and food insecurity for several years. ■
A person walks on a flooded street in Sanaa, Yemen, Aug. 16, 2024. The United Nations said on Thursday that severe flooding in Yemen has affected over 180,000 people since early August, prompting it to call for a 4.9-million-U.S. dollar aid to enhance emergency response efforts. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)
