Heavy monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Yemen, leaving 13 people dead and many more missing. Rescue efforts in the northern Melhan district of Al-Mahwit province have retrieved the bodies of those lost to sudden flash floods, while a young child has been safely rescued. However, 20 individuals continue to be unaccounted for.
Since mid-July, the country has seen 99 fatalities due to relentless seasonal downpours. Experts argue that Yemen's already fragile infrastructure, strained by years of conflict, is struggling to cope with the increasing severity of weather events driven by climate change.
The Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV reported that provinces like Hodeida, Reema, and Hajjah have been hit hardest, affecting around 33,000 families. Despite projections from Yemen's Red Crescent anticipating lower overall rainfall this year, the intensity of the rains during the monsoon season has surpassed expectations.
The World Health Organization has highlighted that Yemenis are bearing the brunt of climate change, with limited resources and weakened infrastructure exacerbating the crisis. As more heavy rains are on the horizon, the humanitarian situation remains dire.
The ongoing conflict since 2014 has compounded the challenges, making it difficult to fully assess the impact of the floods. With over 150,000 lives lost and a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions, Yemen faces an uphill battle against both war and nature's fury.
