The internationally recognized Yemeni government on Friday, August 30, 2024, called upon the United Nations for immediate intervention to safeguard historical sites and cities, particularly in areas controlled by the internationally designated terrorist group, the Houthis. These areas have been facing significant threats of destruction due to recent floods and torrential rains that have swept across the country since early July.

Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani, in an official statement published by the state-run Saba news agency, issued a "distress call" to the Director-General of UNESCO and the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, urging them to intervene urgently to protect historical sites affected by the heavy rains and floods that have ravaged several historical cities located in areas under Houthi control.

Al-Eryani added, "Field reports confirm that a number of historic Yemeni cities have suffered significant damage due to the heavy rains and destructive floods caused by the recent low-pressure system that hit Yemen. Among the most affected are the cities of Sana'a and Zabid, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites."

For weeks, most Yemeni governorates have been experiencing persistent heavy rains, resulting in substantial damage to public and private property. Castles and historical structures in several governorates have also been affected. Activists in areas under the control of the Iran-backed group have accused the Houthis of neglecting the scale of the disaster and failing to respond to residents' pleas for help, claiming their focus is on launching annual sectarian events for the "Prophet's Birthday."