Barran Press
The Deputy Governor of Marib, Abdel-Raba Muftah, who also heads the Emergency Committee, issued an urgent plea on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, for immediate intervention from local, regional, and international organizations to address the needs of those affected by the natural disasters plaguing the governorate.
Muftah made the appeal during an extraordinary meeting of the Emergency Committee, attended by humanitarian partners, including representatives of UN, regional, and international organizations, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.
He emphasized that the heavy rains and strong winds that have battered Marib since Sunday morning have resulted in the deaths of eight people and injuries to 36 others, including women, most of whom are displaced.
Muftah outlined the damage and losses caused by the rains and floods to displacement camps, and service sectors, particularly the electricity sector, amidst forecasts of continued impact from the low-pressure system and persistent heavy rains in the coming days.
The head of the Emergency Committee pointed out the "significant gap between the limited level of partner interventions and the needs of over 7,300 families affected by the rains and thunderstorms."
He appealed to all citizens residing in valley bottoms or near flood channels to move away, safeguarding their lives and property, noting that continuous warnings from meteorological centers indicate Marib's continued vulnerability to the low-pressure system.
Last Sunday, Marib, located in northeastern Yemen, experienced heavy rains, and intense thunderstorms accompanied by winds, hail, and lightning lasting for hours, resulting in significant damage to displacement camps and public services.
In a report, the Executive Unit for the Management of Displacement Camps in Marib Governorate stated that the heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds resulted in the deaths of eight citizens and injuries to 10 others, including children and women.
The report indicated that the floods caused by the heavy rains poured heavily into displacement camps, damaging the shelters of 7,179 displaced families, including 2,973 shelters completely destroyed and 4,206 partially damaged across several camps in the governorate.