At least 57 killed by floods in Yemen: UN agency

SANAA, Yemen

Flash floods have killed at least 57 civilians in war-torn Yemen in recent days, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday.

“The floods that began in late June and intensified through early August have claimed at least 57 lives and affected over 34,000 families, with many missing or injured,” the UN agency said in a statement.

Matt Huber, IOM Yemen’s Acting Chief of Mission, described the scale of the disaster and the humanitarian needs as "enormous."

“Without significant and sustained support from international donors and partners, the ability to meet the needs of those affected will remain severely limited,” he said.

In recent days, flash floods have ravaged several provinces, including Al Hudaydah, Taiz, and Hajjah in western Yemen.

According to the Yemeni Red Crescent Society, thousands have been displaced by the floods, which affected more than 93,000 people.

On Thursday, Yemeni authorities issued an urgent appeal to international donors to help address the damage caused by the floods.

Yemen suffers from extremely weak infrastructure, exacerbating the impact of floods and worsening the plight of residents who already face fragile basic services due to the ongoing civil war that began nearly 10 years ago.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala