Shelter Cluster: Yemen floods affected 294,000 people in August

The Shelter Cluster in Yemen confirmed that the heavy rains and floods that recently hit the country have affected more than 294,000 people since the beginning of August, appealing to donors to provide urgent support to provide relief to those affected.

“Yemen is facing an acute climate emergency, characterised by catastrophic flooding that has caused widespread devastation, particularly in displacement sites and surrounding communities,” the cluster, which operates under the leadership of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ), said in a recent report.

She added, "There is an urgent need for $25 million to meet the increasing needs due to the heavy rains and floods that hit many governorates in the country."

The report explained that the recent catastrophic floods caused many deaths and widespread destruction, especially in displacement sites and surrounding communities in the governorates of Hajjah, Saada, Taiz, Ibb, Hodeidah, Marib, Amran, Al Dhale’e, Al Jawf, Abyan and Lahj, and “over the past three weeks have severely affected 294,002 people, destroying homes, farms, livestock and livelihoods.”

🚨 Urgent Appeal for #Yemen

Catastrophic #flooding has affected 294,000+ people. Our partners provided lifesaving aid to 67,500 people but there is still a $25M funding gap.

Learn more: https://t.co/REf9rz4Dse

Your support can save lives. Donate now! #ClimateEmergency pic.twitter.com/3xKP8FUCF7

— Shelter Cluster Yemen (@ShelterClustYE) August 18, 2024

The report stated that immediate assistance was provided to 67.5 thousand people in the affected governorates, which included the distribution of 7,889 non-food item kits, 1,658 emergency shelter kits, and 1,121 shelter repair kits, while there are still 108 thousand people Affected without shelter assistance.

Without further support, many families will remain at risk, the report noted, “lacking not only a roof over their heads but also the basic household items needed for daily living, and the shelter cluster will not be able to respond to new needs expected to be identified during ongoing assessments and flooding.” Expected in the coming weeks.

The Shelter Cluster stressed that the requested funding will enable it to provide immediate relief in essential supplies such as emergency shelter for those in urgent need and replenish non-food items, take measures to mitigate and reduce the impact of floods on affected communities, enhance disaster preparedness, and mitigate future climate impacts, without which “Affected families will be at risk of prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions, which could lead to further health complications and increased vulnerability.”