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.
