Torrential Rains and High Winds Kill Four Internally Displaced People in Yemen
Four internally displaced people were tragically killed and many others injured on Sunday in Yemen’s central province of Marib due to torrential rains and high winds. This brings the total death toll in Yemen to 61, as reported by the United Nations since late July.
Marib, which has taken in over two million displaced people fleeing the war and Houthi brutality in their areas, was hit hard by the severe weather. The internationally recognized government’s executive unit for internally displaced camps in Marib reported the deaths, injuries, and destruction caused by the weather.
Images and videos shared by residents showed shattered houses, improvised shelters, and flattened parts of the Jaw Al-Naseem camp in Marib. The situation is dire, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stating that severe rains and floods have affected 34,260 homes in Yemen, causing extensive damage and claiming the lives of 57 people while injuring 16. Unfortunately, these figures are expected to rise.
The flash flooding has wreaked havoc in various provinces across Yemen. In Hodeidah, 31 people lost their lives, and 6,042 families were affected. The northern province of Hajjah saw 2,753 families affected, while in Saada, another northern province, two deaths and 3,451 affected families were reported. Taiz, a southern province, witnessed 15 fatalities and 6,494 households affected.
Last week, Hodeidah was devastated by severe rains and catastrophic floods, resulting in at least 30 deaths and leaving many homeless. Houses, farmland, and other properties were destroyed, exacerbating the already dire situation in the war-torn country.
Yemen’s National Center of Meteorology has issued warnings to Yemenis against driving or staying in watercourses, as heavy rainfall, floods, and strong winds are forecasted in the highlands, western, and southern regions of the country.
In light of the ongoing crisis, the Yemeni government has once again called on the international community to provide assistance to the thousands of flood victims, unblock highways, and restore services in four provinces: Hajjah, Hodeidah, Taiz, and Marib. Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian aid to address the damage caused by floods and raids.
Meanwhile, in the province of Al-Bayda, local tribesmen managed to persuade the Houthis to cease their siege and invasion of a village. This came after the villagers agreed to hand over seven individuals suspected of murdering local Houthi agents. The Houthis had surrounded the village of Hamat Sarar in the Walad Rabi area of Al-Bayda and threatened to attack it with tanks. However, the villagers decided to give up the suspects to tribal mediation and held a modest protest to show their support for the Houthis, in exchange for the cessation of the onslaught.
Yemeni government authorities, along with local and international NGOs, had warned of a potential “carnage” if the Houthis attacked the village. The militia had gathered soldiers, tanks, and drones in preparation for the assault. The Geneva-based SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties called on the Houthis to lift the siege and cease their intimidation and repression policies against civilians in their controlled areas.
The situation in Yemen remains critical, with the combination of natural disasters and ongoing conflict exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni people. Urgent international assistance is needed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and provide relief to those affected by the floods and violence.