OVERVIEW
- Death toll at 180 and could rise with scores unaccounted for.
- WHO, as Health Cluster lead, is coordinating the response of health partners in support of Yemeni authorities.
- Yemen makes international appeal for assistance.
- Heavy infrastructure damage, especially water, phone and power networks, and people have sustained heavy property losses. New floods reported in another six governorates but with less damage.
- 20 000 people displaced.
- No disease outbreaks reported so far.
SITUATION UPDATE
- Air and ground rescue operation is still ongoing
- United Nations rapid assessment team with participation of WHO, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, IOM, is today in Sayoun after visiting Mukala. The team will return back to Sana'a on Thursday evening to present its report to UNCT. We will be able to send to you more updated information once the UN team is back to Sana'a.
- Based on reports, Sayoun is heavily affected (60%) followed by Mukala (20%) and Al-Mahra (10%). The Katn area located 40 km south of Seyoun is reported having 450 houses completely destroyed and 5000 people displaced. Based on some reports (by NGOs) the village of
- Saa, in Seyoun is completely destroyed.
- The health situation so far seems to be under control and there is no report of outbreaks so far.
- The UN country team (RC, UNDP, WHO, UNICEF) had a meeting with the Minister of Public Health and Population yesterday. During this meeting, the Minister presented to the UN team the Medium-term plan of the Ministry to address the health consequences and damages caused by the heavy flooding disaster in Hadarmout and Al-Mahra. The plan is addressing coordination, communication, monitoring of the situation, provision of emergency medical services, enhancing epidemiological surveillance system including preparedness for the early detection of outbreaks in the affected areas, strengthening preventive measures and services, health education, and rehabilitation of affected health facilities. WHO is reviewing the plan and will contribute extensively to support sectoral coordination, epidemiological surveillance, outbreak investigation and control, provision of emergency medicines and medical supplies, and control of communicable diseases particularly water-born diseases. The Mid-term plan of Ministry of health is attached for your information.
- The Ministry of public health has started pre-positioning of anti-malarial drugs (chloroquine and Artesunate + Salfadoxine pyrethamine) for the treatment of both types of malaria (falciparum and vivax) according to the new treatment policy which was developed with the technical support of WHO. This is one of the important pillars of response to malaria outbreaks.
- A team of Ministry of public Health comprising the Director General of surveillance and disease control, director of malaria control programme and others left Sana'a today for Sayoun to prepare the ground for implementing control measures and response to any outbreak of malaria and other water-born diseases. 7 car-mounted spraying machines were also sent to Sayoun.
- WHO is procuring (international procurement) around 7 Tons of Insecticides (ICON) for the Ministry of Public Health for the indoor residual spraying campaign for protection of malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis and others. The total cost of this shipment is US$ 270,000 and the insecticides are scheduled to reach Sana'a after two weeks.
- WHO expert is providing continuous support to the Ministry of Health on the enhancing of surveillance system and control of vector-born diseases. WHO expert (malariologist) will join the Ministry team in Sayoun on Saturday November 1, once the security clearance is obtained.
URGENT NEEDS
- International assistance has been arriving to Yemen and more pledges have been made. According to the official newspaper report, The King of Saudi Arabia pledged US$ 100,000,000 for the flood victims.
Based on media report:
- AGFUND pledged US$ 562,000
- Organization of Islamic Conference pledged 250,000
- Al-Saleh Foundation is providing humanitarian assistance to the affected areas
- Hail Said Group (businessman) pledged YR 200,000,000 (US$ 1,000,000)
OTHERS
- WHO Regional expert will arrive to Yemen on Monday, November 3, to assist the Ministry of Public health for enhancing the surveillance system. The expert will also travel to the affected areas.
- The Minister of public Health and the WHO Representative for Yemen cancelled their travel to Doha, Qatar to participate in the International Conference on Primary Health Care, scheduled from 1-4 November.
- WHO Representative will visit the affected areas from Saturday November 1 to Wednesday November 5.
- We are preparing a proposal to be submitted to CERF to support the affected population
- Based on the request of Ministry of health we have submitted to UNDP a request for procuring generators for the mobile hospitals and Hudson Sprayers.
CONTACTS
For further information please contact:
WHO Yemen Country Office:
Dr Ghulam Popal
WR Yemen
e-mail: wr-yemen@yem.emro.who.int
tel: +967 1 252213
WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
Mr Altaf Musani
e-mail: musania@emro.who.int
tel.: + (202) 26 76 50 25
mobile: + (201) 02 58 58 22
WHO headquarters:
Mr Paul Garwood, Communications officer
Health Action in Crises
e-mail: garwoodp@who.int
tel. +41 22 791 3462
mobile: +41 79 475 5546