Floods that recently hit Yemen have damaged approximately 85% of agricultural land, resulting in crop loss and livelihood destruction, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a factsheet on the humanitarian situation in the country.
The Agency said that flooding during recent months significantly disrupted the country's agricultural sector, adversely affecting approximately 279,400 livestock, and exacerbating food and health concerns among vulnerable population.
Also, heavy rainfall associated with flooding and landslides during Yemen’s two annual rainy seasons had affected nearly 938,000 people between March and August 31, according to USAID.
It said floodwaters have damaged health care and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and the current cholera outbreak.
A recent United Nations report released on November 7, 2024, indicates that cholera cases in Yemen have surged to approximately 219,000 since the beginning of this year until October 20.
According to USAID, the floods have exacerbated already dire food security and malnutrition conditions across Yemen, including among households in southern Yemen projected to experience Emergency levels or worse of acute food insecurity through January 2025.
US Funding
The Agency reported that the total humanitarian funding provided by the US government as of September 30 reached more than $733.5 million this year, most of it ($691.2 million) provided by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA), while the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration provided $42.3 million to meet the basic needs of millions of vulnerable people.
It said BHA assistance will be distributed to a number of UN agencies and partner organizations, most notably the World Food Program (WFP), to finance food assistance, cash transfers and therapeutic foods provided by the WFP to address acute food insecurity in Yemen.
Also, $140 million will be allocated for food assistance in addition to water, sanitation, and hygiene in 13 Yemeni governorates.
USAID and BHA partners will distribute assistance to vulnerable households, including conflict-affected, newly displaced, and other at-risk households, to help meet basic needs and develop linkages with longer-term programs, the Agency said.
