The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced yesterday that 180,000 people have been affected by floods in Yemen since the beginning of August, highlighting the urgent need for $4.9 million to scale up emergency response efforts.
In a statement, the organization said, “The ongoing rains and catastrophic floods in Yemen continue to worsen the plight of families already suffering from the impacts of poverty, hunger, and ongoing conflict.”
The statement noted that “exceptionally heavy seasonal rains have led to sudden, devastating floods across Yemen, causing destruction and damage in various parts of the country, with the governorates of Al Hudaydah, Hajjah, Saada, and Taiz being among the hardest hit.”
The floods have swept away homes, shelters, and belongings, affecting more than 180,000 people since the start of August. In Al Hudaydah governorate alone, approximately 50,000 people have been displaced, a number that is expected to rise in the coming days.
The statement added, “The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP) continue to provide life-saving assistance to the most affected individuals through the UN’s Rapid Response Mechanism.”
With heavy rains expected to continue through September, UNICEF emphasized the urgent need for $4.9 million to enhance and expand the emergency response.
According to the statement, “Within 72 hours of the onset of the floods, more than 80,000 people in the affected governorates received emergency relief through Rapid Response Mechanism kits, which include ready-to-eat food, hygiene supplies, and dignity kits, providing immediate relief from the hardships caused by these catastrophic events.”
Since the beginning of August, the intensity of heavy rains in several Yemeni governorates has increased, leading to floods that have left 57 people dead and caused significant material damage, according to UN and government reports.
