With an air of confidence and a palpable sense of elation in his voice, Khalid Mohsen Saleh declared that this year’s farming season in Yemen will surpass all previous ones.
Yemeni farmers have attested that the country has not experienced such persistent and abundant rainfall in years.
Despite it sounding like good news to farmers, heavy rains threaten flooding refugee camps in several Yemeni provinces, especially in Marib, Hajjah, and Taiz. Earlier downpour in those areas killed 14 individuals and injured 30 others.
Around 1,000 residences were destroyed as well, according to a report by the Yemen Red Crescent Society.
Nevertheless, Saleh, a resident of Ibb governorate, the early onset of summer rainfall provides hope for a good agricultural season, amidst the country’s crisis due to the war.
He explained to Asharq Al-Awsat over the phone that people are now able to grow crops such as potatoes, corn, barley, and others.
Saleh also noted that the abundant and continuous rainfall is something Yemen has not seen in years. This has led to the revival of many springs, streams, and hills, which now provide food for cattle and sheep after years of drought.
Yemenis in Sanaa voiced complaints about the poor state of the capital's streets as one of the negative impacts of the heavy rainfall.
In Sanaa, and other cities under Houthi control, road asphalt was eroded, and potholes had spread significantly. Additionally, multiple rural roads have been destroyed due to flash floods.
Yemen’s national meteorological center has warned residents in areas prone to thunderstorms of the dangers of being in flood corridors, valleys, and in streams and wadis, and to avoid crossing them during and after heavy rainfall.
Drivers on roads and mountainous bends have also been warned of potential rockslides and reduced visibility due to rain, fog, or low clouds. Weather forecasts indicate that the amount of rain that will fall in the next two weeks will exceed 300 mm and will extend to the eastern regions of Hadramout and Al-Mahra governorates.
