Yemen is classified as a least-developed and low-income food-deficit country, ranking 153 out of 177 countries on the UNDP 2007/2008 Human Development Index (HDI). Yemen’s 23 million people (with population growth at just over 3 percent) are among the poorest in the world. High food prices have exacerbated already high levels of poverty and food insecurity in the country and Yemen’s limited resources are further taxed by a 4-year civil conflict in the north, the continuous arrival of Somali refugees, and natural disasters.
Widespread flooding swept over eastern Yemen after a Tropical Storm (Level Three) drenched the country with heavy rains from October 24-25, 2008. The desert areas of two easternmost provinces – Hadramout and Al-Mahra – have been most heavily affected and been declared disaster areas by the Yemeni government. Flash floods and surging waters killed at least 80 persons and forced an additional 20,000 to 25,000 people into displacement. At least 3,300 predominantly mud-brick houses have been totally destroyed or damaged beyond repair, while hundreds of others are uninhabitable. In addition to houses, several health facilities and an estimated 170 schools were damaged or destroyed. An estimated 650,000 people (half of Hadramout Governorate’s population) have been impacted by the floods – including severe damage to livelihoods as surging water caused extensive damage to local agriculture, fishing and honey production. More than 40,000 acres of cultivated soil has been eroded – destroying this year’s harvest – as well as some 600,000 palm trees. Damage to infrastructure and water/sanitation facilities has been extensive.
Prompt and generous assistance from the Government, neighbouring countries and the humanitarian community provided directly to the disaster areas has prevented a higher death toll and more extensive suffering among survivors.
From the 27-30 October, the UN sent an interagency team (led by WFP) to conduct a rapid needs assessment mission. Based on the findings, a two month (November-December 2009) IR-EMOP was launched to assist 20,000 IDPs living in schools and temporary settlements in Hadramout and Al-Mahra governorates.
Now approaching the second month of the IR-EMOP, families remain in dire need of assistance. WFP proposes to expand its EMOP to assist 25,000 flood affected persons from 1 January – 30 June 2009. The project is in line with the WFP IR-EMOP already initiated in the area and the UN/INGO Flood Response Plan. The project addresses WFP Strategic Objective 1 “save lives and protect livelihoods in crisis situations“ and Millennium Development Goal 1 “eradicate extreme hunger.” In the meantime, WFP and the World Bank are jointly assessing the situation to elaborate a recovery strategy; this EMOP will serve as a transition to a Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation as needed based on the mission findings.
