The death toll in Hodeidah has been revealed.. The World Health Organization: Floods have caused massive destruction in Yemen, the population’s needs are great, and the situation is becoming increasingly complex

The World Health Organization revealed, on Tuesday, a new death toll from the floods that hit Al Hudaydah Governorate in western Yemen, in light of a wave of violent floods sweeping through many Yemeni governorates due to the increase in rainfall since the beginning of August.

The organization said in a statement on its official website that late last month, torrential rains turned into torrential floods that swept through cities and villages, leaving behind massive destruction. Now, western and central governorates in Yemen have been warned to expect more heavy rains.

The statement added: “In Marib, more than 8,400 displaced families suddenly found themselves homeless after 6,700 shelters were destroyed. Heavy rains turned streets into rivers, sweeping away homes, livestock and livelihoods.”

In the western governorate of Al Hudaydah, the situation was equally dire, with entire communities submerged and the death toll rising steadily, with at least 36 people losing their lives and 564 injured, the statement said.

He explained that the floods have submerged public infrastructure, including health facilities and roads, stressing that there is an urgent need for mobile medical teams and emergency teams to provide basic health services to people in rural areas affected by the floods. In areas where health facilities have escaped the floods, they suffer from a lack of electricity and the destruction of medicines and equipment.

The statement stressed that hospitals urgently need fuel to generate electricity, health authorities are requesting essential medicines, and clean water is one of the most important priorities to avoid further outbreaks of waterborne diseases amid an already widespread cholera outbreak in Yemen.

The World Health Organization said that the streets of Sana’a are flooded and littered with debris. Stagnant water levels are increasing, and with them the risks of diseases such as dengue fever, malaria and cholera. Without immediate intervention, many flood-affected cities face increased public health risks.

She added that the coming months are expected to witness an increase in rainfall, as the central highlands, coastal areas on the Red Sea and parts of the southern highlands are expected to witness unprecedented levels exceeding 300 mm.

The statement noted that prior to the conflict, agriculture and food security were thriving thanks to seasonal rains, and Yemen’s diverse terrain, ranging from coastal plains to mountainous areas, allowed for a wide range of agricultural practices. Rainfall was relatively predictable, and farmers were able to rely on traditional rainwater harvesting techniques such as terraces and cisterns.

“Today, the infrastructure that supported efficient water management has been damaged or destroyed, and heavy rains often lead to devastating floods, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation,” he continued.

He noted that in recent years, increasingly deadly flash floods have destroyed homes, shelters and vital public services, increasing the vulnerability of Yemen's population and facilitating the spread of disease.

He said national and sub-national health clusters are working to coordinate relief efforts and timely delivery of aid with a focus on integrating health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene services into the response.

“Addressing the impact of the rains in Yemen requires a multi-sectoral approach. Immediate humanitarian and health assistance is critical to provide relief to those affected by floods and other climate-related disasters,” said Dr Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen.

“Long-term strategies must focus on rebuilding infrastructure, restoring traditional water management systems, improving preparedness for health risks and strengthening communities’ resilience to future climate shocks. International support and climate justice are essential to help Yemen recover and adapt to climate change,” he added.

“The humanitarian response has been rapid but the scale of the disaster is enormous. Aid organizations – already under pressure from ongoing conflict, lack of funding and increasing restrictions on access – are struggling to provide emergency relief. The needs of the Yemeni population are enormous, and the situation is becoming more complex and difficult by the day,” he continued.

War-torn Yemen is disproportionately affected by climate change compared to developed countries. Rains and floods have destroyed homes and shelters and are expected to continue. Scarce resources and fragile infrastructure are increasing health and economic risks.
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— WHO Yemen (@WHOYemen) August 27, 2024