Rainy seasons are important for agriculture and food security in Yemen, but human damage and losses turn the seasons into disasters
Summary:
Heavy rains and floods in Yemen have killed at least 30 people, displaced hundreds of families, and destroyed infrastructure.
While rainfall is vital for agriculture, Yemen faces extreme weather events such as floods due to climate change.
To prevent future disasters, Yemen needs early warning systems, improved urban planning, infrastructure maintenance, and disaster preparedness programs.
Heavy rains and flooding in Yemen's governorates of the Tihama Plain caused at least thirty fatalities, hundreds of family relocations, the besieging of numerous villages and regions, and significant infrastructure damage. Hodeidah Governorate took the brunt of these losses, according to early reports.
Yemen has two distinct rainy seasons every year: the first one occurs in March and April, and the second one takes place in July and August. Because of the rainfall and siltation on agricultural lands, farmers anticipate a bumper crop during these seasons, which is why irrigation is so important.
On the other hand, residents' lives and property are now seriously threatened by heavy, torrential, and frequent flooding. In 2023 alone, at least 250 people have lost their lives during the two wet seasons. Yemen is particularly feeling the effects of climate change, as droughts and floods, among other extreme weather events, have deteriorated agricultural land, caused water shortages, and raised food insecurity.
A number of immediate actions need to be taken in order to prevent these disasters from happening again, such as creating early warning systems, enhancing infrastructure and city planning, keeping it up to date, and teaching the public about the value of being prepared for disasters. In order to evacuate residents and provide humanitarian aid in an emergency, comprehensive emergency plans must also be created.
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