Sana’a, August 15, 2024 – As persistent rains and catastrophic flooding in Yemen further exacerbate the suffering of families reeling from the effects of poverty, hunger and protracted conflict, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are providing life-saving assistance to some of the most vulnerable through the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM). With torrential rains expected to continue into September, US$4.9 million is urgently needed to scale up emergency response efforts.
Exceptionally heavy seasonal rains have caused flash floods in Yemen, wreaking havoc in various parts of the country – Al Hodeidah, Hajjah, Sa’ada and Taizz governorates are the most affected. Homes, shelters and belongings have been washed away. More than 180,000 people have been affected since the beginning of August – in Al Hodeidah alone, over 50,000 people have been displaced – a number that is likely to rise in the coming days.
Within 72 hours of the floods, over 80,000 people in the flood-affected governorates received emergency assistance from the RRM, including ready-to-eat food rations, sanitary items and feminine hygiene products. These items provide immediate relief from the hardship caused by these disasters.
“The devastating floods have magnified people’s needs, and they are enormous,” said Enshrah Ahmed, UNFPA Representative in Yemen. “Our RRM teams are working around the clock to provide immediate assistance to affected families, but with increasing needs and forecast severe weather, the coming weeks and months will be crucial to ensure that affected families get back on their feet and at least get their lives back on track.”
By 2024, an estimated 82 percent of the people supported by RRM will be severely affected or displaced by climate-related shocks. Unseasonable rainfall required the RRM cluster to take immediate action, overwhelming RRM teams and depleting available supplies and resources.
As needs continue to rise, RRM teams are struggling to reach affected families as roads are destroyed and landmines and unexploded ordnance have moved from the front lines into civilian areas. The items included in the RRM kit are also in short supply.
“The situation in the flooded areas is devastating. UNICEF and partners are on the ground providing urgently needed assistance to those affected. The role of the Rapid Response Teams is critical in times of need such as these,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Yemen.
The RRM in Yemen was established in 2018 to provide a minimum package of immediate, life-saving assistance to newly displaced people and people in displacement camps or hard-to-reach areas in the event of man-made or natural disasters, pending the first relief effort. The RRM ensures the distribution of immediate, ready-to-eat rations, basic hygiene kits from UNICEF and feminine hygiene items from UNFPA within 72 hours of a displacement alert.
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For further information please contact
UNFPA
Taha Yaseen: Tel. +967 712 224090; [email protected]
Lankani Sikurajapathy: Tel. +94773411614; [email protected]
UNICEF
Kamal Al-Wazizah: Tel. +967 712 223 06; [email protected]
