On December 10, 2024, local residents in Lahj Governorate, southern Yemen, launched a community initiative to repair a rugged mountain road that was severely damaged by floods, effectively isolating residents in the mountainous areas of the western part of the province.

Bassem Sultan Al-Maqtari, a member of the initiative, told "Barran Press" that residents from the districts of Al-Makabara, Al-Hawisha, Al-Magharima, and Al-Abadila in the Al-Maqatirah district initiated the project to restore the road connecting Al-Nafaq, Al-Ma'in, Al-Khazfar, and Al-Kadsha, which spans five kilometers. The road was devastated by torrential floods on November 23.

Al-Maqtari explained that the floods destroyed large sections of the road, causing landslides and the collapse of supporting walls, while also burying various sections of the route under mounds of dirt and rocks. This disaster has isolated approximately 15,000 residents from their surroundings, as the flood has completely blocked the only road available.

He emphasized that the community members are working with limited resources, utilizing hand tools and small machinery to clear rocks, pave the road, and construct retaining walls for protection. The road, which is only three meters wide, allows for one-way vehicle passage due to the steep and rugged mountainous terrain.

Al-Maqtari noted that the initiative was launched after a lack of immediate response from the authorities, and the isolation of the western Al-Maqatirah area has persisted for over two weeks. The residents hope that the completion of the road work will restore access to their community.