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Yemen

Yemen: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Attachments

This report is based on information provided by the Yemenis Civil Defense Authority and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen, and on various news reports.

Highlights

- The latest figures on casualties and damages: 180 deaths, over 2,000 houses destroyed/damaged and 10,000 people displaced (a map is attached at Annex)

- Relief assistance is being distributed to the affected population.

Situation

1. According to a statement made by the Deputy Prime Minster and Minister of Planning on 28 October, the latest figures on the casualties and damage in the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahara are as follows:

- 180 people killed

- 2,000 houses destroyed or damaged

- 10,000 persons displaced

- Extensive damage to infrastructure, including power lines, roads, water supplies, phone lines etc.

- Around 60% of electricity supplies have been cut off in Hadramout

2. Road Accessibility

- The road between Mukalla and the airport has been damaged. Attempts to get medical supplies and relief aid to the region have been hampered as many roads in the area are unusable.

- According to WFP, the road from Aden to Mukalla is open and can be accessible by trucks of all capacity. WFP will continue to use the same road for continuous supply of food to the eastern part.

- As of 28 October, the road between Mukalla and Sayon has been opened for 4x4 vehicles.

National Response

3. On 27 October, the Deputy Prime Minister called all UN agencies, international Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Embassies to participate in a high level task force on the crisis response to the floods in southern Yemen.

International Response

4. The Government has not yet requested external international assistance.

5. UNHCR has been working on the ground in close collaboration with the Government of Yemen. Non-food Items (NFIs) for approximately 500 families (3,500 people) arrived in Sayon on 28 October by truck and airlift from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The NFIs include 700 tents, 3,500 mattresses, jerry cans and blankets, 1,500 mosquito nets, soaps and laundry soaps, 500 plastic sheets and kitchen sets.

6. UNICEF will distribute relief items to 2,500 families (approximately 17,500 people) within the next 2-3 days. These include 50 water tanks with the capacity of 2 cubic meters each, 3,000 blankets, 2,000 water jerry cans, 1,000 hygiene kits, and 900 boxes of water purification tablets (containing approximately 9 million tablets). UNICEF is also negotiating with the Ministry of Health for a measles and polio campaign for the entire Governorate, in addition to a Vitamin A administration campaign, to begin as soon as possible. An emergency specialist from the UNICEF regional office is currently on the ground, and will be joined by two county professionals to be based in Hadramout from this week onwards to monitor the distribution of relief items and collaborate closely with the Government, NGOs and other UN agencies.

MAP - Yemen Floods: Situation Map as of 28 October 2008

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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