UN: More than 180,000 people affected by floods in Yemen this month

The United Nations announced on Thursday that the heavy rains and resulting floods that have been hitting Yemen since the beginning of this month have affected more than 180,000 people.

“Exceptionally heavy seasonal rains have caused flash floods and torrential rains, causing destruction and devastation in different parts of Yemen,” UNICEF said in a press release.

The statement added that the governorates of Hajjah, Saada, Taiz and Hodeidah are among the most affected, and since the beginning of August, more than 180,000 people have been affected, and about 50,000 people have been displaced in Hodeidah alone, expecting these numbers to rise in the coming days.

The statement stressed that the floods and torrents swept away homes, shelters and properties, and exacerbated the suffering of families suffering from the effects and repercussions of poverty, hunger and the ongoing conflict.

UNICEF indicated that it continues, along with other UN agencies, to provide life-saving assistance to the most affected individuals through the rapid response mechanism led by the United Nations Population Fund. “Within 72 hours of the onset of the floods, more than 80,000 people in the affected governorates received emergency relief, including ready-to-eat food, hygiene supplies and dignity kits, which provide a form of immediate relief from the hardships resulting from these catastrophic events.”

The statement expected heavy rains to continue until next September, calling on the international community to provide urgent funding worth $4.9 million to increase and expand the scope of the emergency response for affected families.