Barran Press
The internationally recognized Yemeni government announced on Thursday, August 8th, 2024, that it has contacted regional and international partners, including nations, financial institutions, and international humanitarian organizations, to support its efforts in addressing the damage caused by heavy rains and floods that struck the provinces of Hodeidah and Hajjah in western Yemen.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the government expressed its readiness to provide all necessary facilities to ensure aid reaches those in need in the affected areas through an operations room established for this purpose.
According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, the government statement confirmed "significant damage to displacement camps and mud-brick houses," attributing it to "torrential rains that threaten the lives of residents and put their property at risk."
The statement emphasized that "the dangerous situation caused by the low-pressure system requires urgent and comprehensive intervention to address the repercussions, alleviate the suffering of affected citizens, provide necessary alternatives in the most affected areas, and implement immediate measures to drain floodwaters."
The Ministry of Planning, in its statement, urged "all partners to respond swiftly and provide urgent support in all forms to provide relief to those affected, rehabilitate infrastructure, and prevent further loss of life and property."
On Wednesday, August 7th, the internationally recognized Yemeni Prime Minister, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, assessed the damage caused by the floods resulting from heavy rains that affected several provinces, particularly in various districts of Hajjah, Taiz, and Hodeidah, according to Saba.
Bin Mubarak engaged in intensive communication with relevant ministers, governors of affected provinces, emergency rooms, and displacement camp management units, listening to preliminary reports on the damage and the efforts undertaken to address it urgently.
In his communications, the Prime Minister stressed the paramount importance of protecting citizens, warning them to stay away from valleys and flood channels. He instructed prioritizing rescue and relief efforts for citizens and displaced persons affected by the floodwaters, providing necessary alternatives in the most affected areas.
On Tuesday evening, August 6th, 2024, Hodeidah province in western Yemen experienced torrential rains, leading to the flooding of entire neighborhoods in several areas of the province.
Sources told Barran Press that "the situation is catastrophic in the Tihama plain in Hodeidah province as destructive floods swept through neighborhoods, villages, and farms amidst continuous rains since the afternoon, resulting in significant human and material losses."
They explained that dozens of people, including children, women, and elderly individuals, were reported missing after being swept away by the floods on Tuesday night from the "Al-Ruqood" area in the "Zubid" district, the "Al-Zeen" village in the "Al-Qanawis" district, and the "Al-Lawiya" village in the "Ad-Durihimi" district of Hodeidah.
Sources confirmed the collapse of dozens of houses swept away by the floods, including a house that collapsed on a family, resulting in the deaths of the father, mother, and two women who drowned in the "Al-Sahl" village in Ad-Durihimi.
They pointed out the lack of any action by the de facto authorities affiliated with the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, which controls the province, to assist the people of Tihama after the significant damage they suffered due to the heavy rains that caused floods not seen in decades.