8/15/2024
The field teams of Qatar Charity (QC) in Yemen have begun distributing relief aid to those affected by floods that hit several areas. The initial aid, which came as an urgent humanitarian response, includes food packages, hygiene kits, and shelter supplies.
Urgent Aid
The intervention began with distributing 1,000 food packages and 1,000 hygiene kits to the affected in Al Qanawis and Az Zaydiyah, both districts in Al Hudaydah Governorate. The teams are preparing to distribute 3,500 food packages and 3,500 hygiene kits in Hajjah Governorate, in addition to 1,150 food packages and 1,150 hygiene kits to those affected in Marib, Hays, and Al-Khawkhah.”
The shelter assistance includes blankets, mattresses, mats, and kitchen utensils, while the food packages contain essential supplies sufficient for a month for the beneficiary families. Additionally, Qatar Charity is preparing to implement a joint project with ‘Start Fund’, which will involve the distribution of 1,100 food packages and 1,100 shelter kits in the districts of Abs and Al Marawi'ah.
Humanitarian Duty
To its humanitarian efforts, Qatar Charity is working to mobilize support to provide additional emergency relief to those affected. The aid will focus on providing food packages, shelter materials, hygiene kits, and clean water to the affected communities.
In a subsequent phase, Qatar Charity will aim to implement recovery projects, which will include supplying medicines and medical equipment to damaged health facilities to combat epidemics following the floods. These projects will also focus on water and sanitation efforts, such as cleaning and protecting affected water sources and providing solar-powered pumping systems. Additionally, the organization will work on repairing damaged homes, creating income opportunities for the affected through economic empowerment projects, and rehabilitating damaged health facilities.
Damages
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that in Al Hodeidah Governorate, the floods have displaced over 6,000 families and caused severe infrastructure damage. The floods have buried wells, washed away farmlands, and caused widespread destruction of homes and essential public services. Roads have been closed, and access to affected areas remains challenging, further complicating relief efforts.
In Ma’rib, recent windstorms and floods have caused extensive damage. According to IOM, preliminary assessments reveal that 600 shelters were fully damaged, and 2,800 were partially damaged, affecting over 20,000 people.
Several hospitals have been submerged by the floods, according to IOM, which estimates that contaminated water and deteriorated sanitation services have significantly increased the risk of waterborne diseases, posing a major health threat to the population.