International report: 875 people killed and injured due to heavy rains and floods in Yemen this year

Heavy rains and devastating floods that hit Yemen this year killed and injured 875 people and affected more than 655,000 people in various governorates of the country.

The 2024 rainy season in Yemen saw unprecedented rainfall that caused severe flooding that led to destruction and displacement in Yemen, exacerbating the country's already dire humanitarian situation due to prolonged conflict, disasters and disease outbreaks, a report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

The report added that Yemen has witnessed two main rainy seasons, one in April and May and the other from July until the end of September, which was particularly devastating this year due to unusual weather patterns and continuous heavy rains across the country.

The report indicated that according to initial assessments conducted by the Yemeni Red Crescent Society, 655,011 people from 93,573 families were affected by the heavy rains and floods that recently hit the country, killing 240 people and injuring 635 others.

The report noted that all Yemeni governorates were affected by these floods, with the exception of Aden and Socotra, and the governorates of Saada, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Taiz, Al Hudaydah, and Al Mahwit were the most affected.

The report stated that the floods displaced about 500,000 people - according to the United Nations Population Fund - and led to the destruction of a large number of mud houses and tents for the displaced, the destruction of many water sources and roads, the disruption of livelihoods, the submergence of agricultural lands, the causing of severe damage to livestock, threatening food security, and the transfer of unexploded ordnance to residential areas, which caused an increase in the risk of exposure of people and humanitarian workers responding on the ground.

He pointed out that the floods caused serious damage to the sites of residents and internally displaced persons, their homes, temporary shelters and infrastructure, affecting thousands of families. According to the latest updates of the National Shelter and Non-Food Items Cluster in Yemen, 34,709 shelters were damaged, including 12,837 partially damaged and 21,872 completely damaged.

In the health sector, the floods caused damage to health facilities. According to the latest updates of the National Health Cluster in Yemen, 126 health facilities were affected by the floods, at varying levels according to the report.

Floods have caused devastating damage to livelihoods, with around 99,000 hectares of agricultural land affected by floods. Most of the affected agricultural land was in Al Hudaydah (77,362 hectares) and Hajjah (20,717 hectares), representing around 12 percent and 9 percent respectively of the total agricultural land. Around 279,000 sheep and goats were also affected, according to a rapid assessment conducted by FAO in August and September 2024.

The report indicated that with the end of the rainy season, Yemen will face a transitional period to a drier period where water resources are scarce, adding challenges to the agricultural sector and threatening food security for the affected population.

The report recommended the need to provide urgent assistance to those affected in the sectors of (emergency shelter, food and non-food items, water and sanitation, clothing, protection, multi-purpose cash assistance, and medical supplies to ensure the continuity and functionality of health care facilities).