UN Alert: Yemen to Observe Downpours, Floods in Coming Week

Yemenis ride motorcycles through a flooded street following heavy rain in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)
Yemenis ride motorcycles through a flooded street following heavy rain in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)
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UN Alert: Yemen to Observe Downpours, Floods in Coming Week

Yemenis ride motorcycles through a flooded street following heavy rain in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)
Yemenis ride motorcycles through a flooded street following heavy rain in Sanaa, Yemen (AFP)

Much of Yemen’s Highlands should brace for deadlier downpours and floods in the coming week, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said in a agrometeorological early warning bulletin it released this week.

FAO also said the return of the Saif rainy season is marked by an increase of precipitation across the country.

Forecast until the end of April presents an increase of rainfall with a risk of major flooding continuation and expansion across other governorates in the country, the UN agency said.

It then warned that the central highlands will observe heavy rains and floods from the beginning of next week until April 10.

Also, the increase of precipitation from the preceding months is likely to be leading to sporadic occurrence of flood that is expected to spread around the most flood prone areas, located at the foot of steep slopes, and along the main valleys, such as Rimah, Zabid, Maur, and Bana in Hodeidah.

A peak of about 100 to 150 mm of rainfall will be observed in Ibb, Dhamar, Amran and Sanaa governorates.

FAO said some abrupt increase of precipitation in the Eastern part of the country will lead to storms, likely to be causing flooding in some of the most prone areas such as in Hadramaut governorate.

It then warned residents that the stormy weather will increase serious risks to lives and disruption on agricultural livelihoods and other sectors, such as Health, WASH, Education, and Access and communication.

The UN agency also cautioned that since the preparation and planting activities are prevailing in most of the areas in country, farms and soils may be severely affected by flooding waters.

FAO said the latest models of rainfall prediction suggest a widespread of above-normal estimates in Yemen coast and interior, which is conducive for small scale desert locust breeding conditions in Al Maharah and area between Aden and Lahj.

However, the impacts are expected to be minimal, considering the lo-calized infestation and low-density areas of desert locust are at mature stage, it added.

Continued Displacement

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that in the first quarter of 2024, the UN Multisectoral Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) recorded a significant number of individuals facing displacement due to both armed conflict and climate-induced calamities like floods and heavy rains.

It said in the past three months, a total of 14,238 individuals faced displacement. Of these, climate-related disasters impacted 2,730 individuals, while ongoing armed conflicts displaced 11,508 Individuals.

Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) led RRM through its implementing partners provided lifesaving assistance to 96% of the enrolled individuals across 14 affected governorates. Notably, 31 percent of the households receiving assistance were female headed households, it said.

According to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP) indicators, these households are eligible for one-off Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and one-off General Food Distribution (GFD).

To date, 3,565 households have received MPCA from the IOM/CCY, while 7,198 households have been provided with one-off general food assistance by the WFP.



Report: US Holds Secret Talks with Hamas on Gaza Hostages

Hamas fighters escort Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025. (AFP)
Hamas fighters escort Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025. (AFP)
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Report: US Holds Secret Talks with Hamas on Gaza Hostages

Hamas fighters escort Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025. (AFP)
Hamas fighters escort Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025. (AFP)

The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with the Palestinian group Hamas on the possibility of releasing US hostages being held in Gaza, two sources briefed on the conversations told Reuters.

US special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler has been holding the direct talks with Hamas in recent weeks in Doha, the sources said, confirming a report by Axios.

Until recently the US had avoided direct discussions with the group. The US State Department designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.

Such talks run counter to long-standing US policy against direct contacts with groups that Washington lists as terrorist organizations.

The previous US role in helping to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza war has been dealing with Israel and Qatari and Egyptian mediators but without any known direct communications between Washington and Hamas.

The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Boehler's office declined to comment.

It was unclear when or how the Israeli government was informed of the talks.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did representatives for Hamas.

The sources said the talks have focused on gaining the release of American hostages still held in Gaza, but one said they also have included discussions about a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and how to reach a long-term truce.

One of the sources said the effort includes an attempt to gain the release of Edan Alexander, of Tenafly, New Jersey, believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas.

US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff plans to return to the region in coming days to work out a way to either extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal or advance to the second phase, a State Department spokesperson said on Monday.