Heavy floods in Yemen claim lives and destroy homes

Flash floods in Yemen, caused by heavy rain, have killed at least eight people, including children, across multiple provinces, worsening the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In Hajjah province, a collapsed house in al-Khadraa village killed three children and injured their parents.

Floodwaters also destroyed dozens of makeshift tents housing displaced people in Abs district.

In Shabwah province, a father and son drowned, while two children and a young man died in separate incidents in Shabwah and neighboring Hadhramaut, raising the death toll to five in just 48 hours.

Earlier this week, flooding in Aden caused injuries and significant property damage. 

It is believed to be the worst natural disaster the area has seen in years.

"The area here in Al-Haswa, from the al-Haswa-Shaab road to the Wasel-Bir Ahmed road, is the most affected by the floods," explained Ali al-Meshwali, a resident from Al-Haswa. 

"It is now considered the most devastated area, based on what we observed during our tour of most of the houses. Residents cannot return to their homes, and those who do find their houses uninhabitable," he added.

Qassim Salim who also lives in Al-Haswa said, "The least affected are those who only experienced water entering their homes, rising to no less than half a metre. No one was able to save any belongings, neither the valuable nor the cheap ones. No one was able to save anything."

Authorities across affected provinces have warned of continued heavy rainfall and urged residents to stay away from riverbeds and dams.

Yemen’s decade-long conflict and damaged infrastructure have intensified the humanitarian impact of these seasonal floods, leaving residents struggling with inadequate basic services.

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