Yemen suffers the effects of severe flooding and Covid-19

Torrential rain continues across Yemen, which has once again led to severe flooding. Over the past three months flash flooding in the country has cost more than 170 people their lives and left many others severely injured. An estimated 300,000 people have now lost their homes, crops, livestock and possessions.

This is not the first time that flood-affected people have been forced from their homes, as many have already been displaced as a result of conflict. Already struggling families are once again having to rebuild their lives and communities.

The flooding has also raised significant health concerns as water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged. There are now fears of water contamination which will exacerbate the spread of dangerous diseases such as cholera, malaria and dengue fever.

To make matters even worse, the Covid-19 situation in Yemen is continuing to deteriorate. Over 2,000 cases of the virus have now been confirmed and almost 600 people have died as a result.

Sadly, people with suspected with Covid-19 symptoms continue to delay seeking treatment because of stigma, difficulties accessing treatment centres, and the risk they feel they face in seeking care.

We’re on the ground supporting affected families

Islamic Relief are doing all we can to help those whose lives have once again been devastated in Yemen.
We’re supporting families with food packages containing essential food items, ready meals, and hygiene kits.

So far we have supported over 4,000 people affected by the flooding and we’re planning to help many more in the coming weeks and months.

Our Covid-19 response in Yemen has been focused on supporting the health system and expanding existing programmes and partnerships to bolster local preparedness and response.

Islamic Relief interventions include reaching 1.7 million people with Covid-19 prevention messaging and providing training to staff in quarantine centres and healthcare workers on infection prevention and control.

We’ve also worked with partners to distribute ready-to-eat meals, blankets and hygiene kits to almost 800 people in quarantine centres in the capital, Sanaa, and the city of Dhammar.

We need your support to help the people of Yemen

Twenty million people in Yemen do not know where their next meal is coming from, over 3 million have been displaced and around 20 million are in urgent need of healthcare. Therefore, the combined impact of Covid-19 and the recent flooding on the economy in terms of loss of livestock and crop damage could have devastating effects on a population already on the edge of survival.

With your support, we can continue to provide this vital assistance to those suffering in Yemen. Please donate to our Yemen Appeal.