The United Nations reported on Thursday, August 29, that 1020 families have been affected and 42 people are missing following flash floods that struck the Malhan district of Al-Mahwit governorate (northwest Yemen) on Tuesday night.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), in a brief statement on X (formerly Twitter), stated that "catastrophic" floods hit Malhan district "following heavy rainfall and the collapse of three dams on Tuesday."

The statement added that ongoing assessments indicate that "1020 families have been affected, with more than 41 individuals dead or missing, along with the complete destruction of 40 homes and partial destruction of 230."

The UNFPA noted that "emergency response teams (under UN auspices) are making significant efforts to reach and provide assistance."

Since the beginning of August, Yemen has been experiencing heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, resulting in dozens of deaths and affecting nearly a quarter of a million people, particularly those living in displacement camps.

For the third consecutive week, Al-Mahwit governorate has been experiencing continuous rainfall of varying intensity. However, the heaviest rainfall occurred in the southern and western districts on Tuesday, August 27.

After 10 continuous hours of heavy rain, from Tuesday afternoon until 2 am on Wednesday, Al-Mahwit woke up to an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the governorate's history, specifically in the Malhan district, located 105 kilometers west of the governorate.

"Barran Press" was the first to report on the details of the disaster, with local sources in Al-Mahwit (late Tuesday evening) informing us of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Malhan district, known for its towering and steep mountainous terrain. The heavy rains caused the collapse of several homes, leading to numerous casualties.

Local sources, in separate accounts to "Barran Press," stated that the heavy and continuous rainfall led to the overflowing and collapse of numerous water barriers scattered across the district's isolated areas. This resulted in the loss of 43 lives, the washing away of 37 homes, vast agricultural lands, commercial establishments, and the destruction of some schools and mosques.

They added that all residents of the Malhan district's isolated areas have been displaced to mosques, schools, and mountain peaks in the district. They emphasized that families are facing dire circumstances due to the lack of food, medicine, shelter, and means of survival amidst the harsh weather conditions.

The sources also reported that giant rocks fell from the mountain heights, blocking major and secondary roads leading to and from the district. They confirmed that the residents of the district are completely isolated, with a complete absence of any role from the de facto authorities affiliated with the Houthi group, which controls the governorate, in assisting them.