ReliefWeb

Ref: GVA/99/0251
Yemen - Floods
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
10 December 1999

Situation

The Socotra Archipelago, southern Yemen, in the Indian Ocean, located southeast of the entrance of the Gulf of Aden, has suffered massive floods caused by successive periods of torrential rainfall since the evening of 4 December 1999.

According to a report issued by the National Disaster Preparedness Committee (NDPC) in the Ministry of Planning and Development of the Yemen Government on 8 December, due to continuous heavy rains and strong winds gusting up-to 40 km/h, massive flooding affected the entire archipelago. The Government special Emergency Technical Task Force (ETTF) that flew to the Archipelago and implemented a preliminary damage assessment of the Hedaibo district on the main island and some other small islands (Najhar, Qadheb, Diham, Za'loota adb Dhanoban) confirmed the following damage:

- Around 400 homes have been destroyed and local residents have been left homeless.

- The Hedaibo water supply project was damaged. Water pipelines were swept away and open water tanks have been filled with floodwaters and mud.

- Fishing nets were swept away.

- Stored basic commodities like flour were damaged.

- There was substantial loss of livestock.

Emergency relief requirements

According to the report of NDPC, emergency relief aid and rehabilitation assistance are required in the following areas:

- Tents to shelter families left homeless, blankets and mats, food aid including flour and other basic commodities, medical supplies and the dispatch of a medical team.

- The immediate rehabilitation of the Hedaibo water supply project

National response to the early December floods

As mentioned above, an initial damage assessment has already been implemented by ETTF. A technical team comprising several government institutions (Ministries of Planning and Development, Local Administration, Electricity and Water, Public Health, Agriculture, Fisheries, Interior and Construction) will be dispatched to the Archipelago to undertake a comprehensive survey of the extent of flood damages and rehabilitation requirements and other measures.

International response

The Government of Yemen has not issued an official appeal for international assistance but requested OCHA's/ UNDP's immediate intervention to address the emergency needs of medicines, blankets and foodstuffs in the aftermath of the massive floods. OCHA is in close contact with UNDP Sana'a to monitor the situation and review assistance requirements.

This situation report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone number: +41-22-917 12 34
In case of emergency: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack/Mr. R. Mueller/Mr. S. Matsuka, OCHA Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31 / 40 34

Press contact: Ms. E. Ponomareva, direct Tel. +41-22-917 23 36

Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org