Torrential rain-induced flooding has resulted in 45 fatalities in Yemen over the past few days, as reported by a United Nations agency and a local official on Wednesday.
The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on the social media platform X that flash floods on Friday led to 15 deaths in Maqbanah, located in the southwestern Taez province. In Hodeida, Governor Mohamed Qahim disclosed to local media that 30 people perished and five went missing due to the floods, with over 500 individuals displaced. He further mentioned that numerous homes were obliterated and more than seven vehicles were carried away.
OCHA highlighted that the flooding in Taez impacted 10,000 people, with 80 wells buried, farmlands eroded, and homes damaged. The agency cited challenges in access and a lack of funding for aid organizations. Earlier, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization predicted that Yemen would experience cumulative rainfall of 300 mm across the Central Highlands and Southern Uplands, with the peak daily intensity of over 120 mm expected on August 7.
Since late July, several regions in Yemen have encountered heavy rainfall and flooding, disrupting daily life in the conflict-stricken nation. OCHA had previously reported on July 28 that flooding in the northern Saada governorate caused the deaths of three individuals, including a child. The floods also demolished over 1,000 homes for displaced persons, affecting approximately 2,000 families.
