85% of Agricultural Land Damaged by Floods in Yemen

279,000 sheep and goats affected by floods in Yemen (UN)
279,000 sheep and goats affected by floods in Yemen (UN)
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85% of Agricultural Land Damaged by Floods in Yemen

279,000 sheep and goats affected by floods in Yemen (UN)
279,000 sheep and goats affected by floods in Yemen (UN)

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.

 

 



Russia Denies its Hmeimim Base in Syria Is Being Used to Supply Hezbollah with Weapons from Iran

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Russia Denies its Hmeimim Base in Syria Is Being Used to Supply Hezbollah with Weapons from Iran

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)

Russia has asked Israel to avoid launching aerial strikes as part of its war against Lebanon’s Hezbollah near one of Moscow’s bases in Syria, a top official said Wednesday.

Syrian state media in mid-October claimed that Israel had struck the port city of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar Assad, who is supported by Russia and in turn backs Hezbollah.

Latakia, and in particular its airport, is close to the town of Hmeimim that hosts a Russian air base.

“Israel actually carried out an air strike in the immediate vicinity of Hmeimim,” Alexander Lavrentiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy in the Near East, told the RIA Novosti press agency.

“Our military has of course notified Israeli authorities that such acts that put Russian military lives in danger over there are unacceptable,” he added.

“That is why we hope that this incident in October will not be repeated.”

Israel has carried out intensive bombing of Syria but rarely targets Latakia, to the northwest of Damascus.

Israel accuses Hezbollah of transporting weapons through Syria.

The two warring parties have been in open conflict since September after Israel’s year-long Gaza war with Hamas — a Hezbollah ally — escalated to a new front.

Lavrentiev said that Russia’s air base was not being used to supply Hezbollah with weapons.

Israel stepped up strikes on Syria at the same time as targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian government forces and groups supported by its arch-foe Iran, notably Hezbollah fighters that have been deployed to assist Assad’s regime.

Israel rarely comments on its strikes but has said it will not allow Iran to extend its presence to Syria.