Flooding in Yemen has resulted in at least 57 deaths and displaced thousands, according to the United Nations (UN).
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over 34,000 families have been affected by the severe rains, which started in late June and intensified in early August.
This disaster has exacerbated the country’s already critical humanitarian crisis, with millions still struggling from the effects of a civil conflict that began nearly a decade ago, the UN added.
“The magnitude of this disaster is overwhelming, and the humanitarian needs are enormous,” said Matt Huber, the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s acting chief of mission in Yemen.
The regions impacted by the flooding include Hudaydah, Hajjah, Taiz, and Marib, with Hudaydah being among the hardest hit. According to the UN, flooding in Hudaydah has displaced over 6,000 families and caused extensive damage to homes and essential services.
Access to the affected areas remains challenging due to road closures, the UN reports. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is increasing its emergency operations in response.
Domestic media has been covering the severe impacts of the heavy rains. Belqees TV, citing a body responsible for displacement camps, reported that five people have died and ten others have been injured in Marib.
Additionally, independent news site Al-Masdar Online has criticized the Houthi rebels for their silence on the devastation in Hudaydah province, where the site claims the “biggest disaster” has occurred. The Houthis, an Iranian-backed group that opposes Israel, have faced criticism for their response.
Yemen has been ravaged by conflict since 2015, when the Houthis took control of significant portions of the country, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.