The Humanitarian Cell of the National Resistance in Yemen launched a relief campaign on Saturday for those affected by the recent floods in Hodeidah, supported by the United Arab Emirates.
The campaign, funded by the UAE’s humanitarian arm, the “Red Crescent,” targeted the liberated districts of Al-Khokha and Hays in southern Hodeidah province (West Yemen), according to a statement from the National Resistance’s Humanitarian Cell.
Catastrophic floods have struck various districts of Hodeidah, affecting thousands of families, including over 12,500 displaced individuals in government-controlled areas of Hays and Al-Khokha.
The Humanitarian Cell, in a statement received by “Al-Ain News,” announced the launch of the relief campaign supported by the UAE Red Crescent, following the directives of Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Tareq Saleh, and attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the National Resistance Political Bureau, Nasser Bajel, and the First Deputy Governor of Hodeidah, Walid Al-Qudaimi.
The statement outlined a two-pronged approach for the relief effort. The first involves constructing barriers to protect residential areas at risk of flooding due to heavy rains. The second is providing cash assistance to those affected, based on a field survey conducted by a specialized team from the Humanitarian Cell in coordination with the recognized local authorities.
In the first phase, bulldozers are constructing earthen barriers to fortify residential clusters and create channels for floodwaters in three villages: Beit Al-Hadeesh, Beit Al-Himi, and Beit Akeesh in rural Hays. Other bulldozers have started building a main flood channel in Al-Khokha.
This initiative aims to prevent further damage from the anticipated heavy rains in the coming days and weeks in western regions and other parts of the country.
In the second phase, relief committees have begun distributing aid to flood victims, starting in the western coastal town of Heija Ubaid, with distribution ongoing to alleviate the suffering of the affected.
Walid Al-Qudaimi, the First Deputy Governor of Hodeidah, praised the efforts and dedication of Vice Chairman Tareq Saleh and the UAE’s humanitarian initiatives in assisting the flood victims. He noted that this urgent campaign “will remain etched in the hearts of the people of Tihama, who reciprocate loyalty with loyalty.”
The Yemeni official expressed his “deep gratitude to the UAE’s leadership, government, and people” for their pivotal role in standing by the Yemeni people in both good and difficult times.
Abdullah Al-Hubaishi, Director of the Humanitarian Cell in the National Resistance, confirmed that the campaign will cover all affected individuals, based on the field survey coordinated with local authorities in the affected areas.
He emphasized that the campaign will “protect all targeted areas near flood channels” to prevent any loss of life and property in the coming days.
Beneficiaries expressed their deep thanks to Vice Chairman Tareq Saleh and the UAE, affirming that the urgent relief campaign has left a significant impact on their lives.
Previously, the National Resistance’s Humanitarian Cell, with the support of the UAE Red Crescent, informed the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement of its readiness to dispatch relief and shelter convoys to those affected by floods in Houthi-controlled areas of the coastal province.
The Humanitarian Cell urged the Houthi militias to approach the humanitarian initiative purely from a humanitarian perspective, free from political calculations, allowing their teams to assist flood victims in Hodeidah.
Recently, with UAE support, the Humanitarian Cell has also provided aid to flood victims in Maqbanah district, west of Taiz, where more than 10,000 people were affected, over 15 people lost their lives, water wells were buried, and homes were destroyed.
A low-pressure system struck seven Yemeni provinces in recent weeks, including Hajja and Hodeidah, which witnessed catastrophic floods. These floods were the first of their kind in over 40 years, driven by the deepening Indian monsoon and the presence of the eastern jet stream in the upper atmosphere. According to damage statistics released by the Yemeni government and Houthi militias, the floods have affected more than 136,000 people and claimed over 76 lives in the provinces hit by heavy rains and floods.
