International report: More than 340,000 people affected by floods in Yemen in about two weeks

An international report revealed that more than 340,000 people were affected by the rains and floods that hit Yemen in about two weeks.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a report on Tuesday: “According to initial assessments, approximately 48,755 families, comprising 341,285 people, were directly affected by the rains and floods that hit the country, from July 28 to August 14, 2024.”

He added that the assessments conducted by the Yemeni Red Crescent Society indicate that 12,915 families were affected in Hodeidah with 30 deaths and five missing persons, 12,305 families in Marib, 10,480 families in Hajjah, and in Taiz 6,494 families were affected with 15 deaths, while in Saada 3,451 families were affected with two deaths, in Al Jawf 1,740 families, and in Ibb 1,370 families.

The report explained that heavy rains and floods caused destruction and displacement in Yemen, and caused severe damage to the sites of residents and internally displaced persons, their homes, temporary shelters and infrastructure, affecting thousands of families, many of whom have been displaced for years, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.

“The floods have destroyed a large number of mud houses and IDP tents, destroyed many water sources and roads, disrupted livelihoods, submerged agricultural lands, caused severe damage to livestock, threatened food security, and moved unexploded ordnance into residential areas, creating increased risks for people and humanitarian workers responding on the ground,” he added.

The report quoted field information indicating that the floods damaged many health care facilities, affecting people's ability to access basic health care services, amid a fragile health situation and the outbreak of acute watery diarrhea, cholera and dengue fever, which raises serious concerns about the spread of waterborne diseases due to contaminated water sources.

The report indicated that the Yemeni Red Crescent Society, with the support of the International Federation, took the initiative to respond by providing basic household supplies to 5,484 affected families, in addition to distributing food parcels to 2,030 families, and tarpaulins and mosquito nets to 1,212 families, and continuing search and rescue activities in the affected areas.