UN Appeals for USD 11 Million to Aid 650,000 Flood Victims in Yemen
Relief Web: Humanitarian agencies appeal for $11.5 million to help flood survivors in Yemen
(New York, 10 November 2008): United Nations agencies in partnership with nongovernmental organizations today appealed for $11.5 million to enable them provide humanitarian aid to an estimated 650,000 people affected by the recent severe floods in Yemen.
Torrential rainfall lashed eastern Yemen on 24-25 October causing floods that inundated villages, killing at least 73 people, and destroying homes, crops and other property. The Wadi Hadramout valley and coastal areas were particularly hard hit. At least 3,264 houses, made mainly of mud bricks, were totally destroyed or damaged beyond repair, leaving between 20,000 and 25,000 people without shelter. Hundreds of other homes have been rendered unfit for human habitation.
The funding sought under the Yemen Floods Response Plan will be used to assist those affected with food, water and sanitation, health and nutrition services, shelter, protection and education. The plan comprises projects proposed by seven United Nations agencies, the International Organization for Migration, and two non-governmental organizations in coordination with the Government of Yemen.
Survivors also need help to restore their means of livelihood quickly. Funding needs for early recovery efforts will be identified in the coming weeks in consultation with the Government of Yemen. Several health facilities and an estimated 166 schools and educational facilities were damaged or destroyed. Flood water caused extensive damage to local agriculture and honey production.
The timeline for the humanitarian assistance will range from two to six months, with the food assistance expected to extend until the next harvest in April 2009. Assistance provided by the UN and NGOs will focus primarily on short-term humanitarian assistance, while addressing the outstanding gaps in immediate assistance and initiating the first activities related to post-floods early recovery.
US Flood Aid: USD 350,000
SANA’A, NewsYemen
The United States of America, through the Office of Foreign Disaster Relief, has disbursed $299,000 to the United Nations to support their disaster relief efforts for victims of the flooding in Hadramout and Mahra governorates, a press release sent by the U.S Embassy in Sana’a on Sunday said.
In addition, the United States Agency for International Development has re-deployed five of its Mobile Health Teams to the affected areas. Three have been sent to Sah, and the remaining two have been sent to Tarim. Each Mobile Health Team can care for 50 to 70 patients a day, it said.
The press release said these funds and services add to the $50,000 in emergency funding provided by the United States in late October to the World Food Program for the delivery of emergency food and supplies to the region.
The Embassy of the United States in Sana’a continues to coordinate with the Government of Yemen, the United Nations, and the international non-governmental organization community to determine how best to provide emergency relief to the victims of this disaster, said the Embassy.
