RISK ANALYSIS AND EARLY ACTION SELECTION
Prioritized hazard and its historical impact.
Natural hazards represent a major threat to the lives, livelihoods, and well-being of many communities across Yemen, often contributing to displacement and increased vulnerability, and putting additional pressure on infrastructure and essential services.
Against the backdrop of more than nine years of civil conflict, seasonal, rain-induced flooding has inflicted devastating consequences upon the Yemeni population, causing loss of life and property damage among other adverse impacts.
Yemen has an INFORM Climate Change Risk Index for 2022 of 8.2, ranking third among the most vulnerable countries to climate change and least prepared for climate shocks, after Somalia and South Sudan. Yemen is prone to natural hazards and experiences disasters, in particular flooding, on an annual basis.
According to the 2023 HRP, “Natural hazards and disasters doubled related displacement in 2022, damaged public and civilian infrastructure and impacted the delivery of essential services.” Heavy rains and flooding impacted more than 517,000 people in 2022 and led to over 160,000 new and secondary displacements between July and September 2022.
Throughout the last three years (2021, 2022, 2023), all governorates in Yemen witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall and torrential floods. Between April and September 2022, torrential rains and flooding hit several areas across the country, affecting 74,000 households (over 500,000 people) in 19 governorates. Most of those affected live in displaced sites and settlements where shelters, livelihoods, and water sources were damaged. This resulted in a dire humanitarian situation for the affected families amid limited funding. Hajjah, Al Jawf, Al Hodeidah, Al Bayda, Amanat, Al Asimah, Amran, Ma’rib, and Sana’a Governorates were hit the most by torrential rains and flooding. Aid organizations provided immediate relief to affected families with the limited resources available. However, the lack of partners in some of these affected districts resulted in slow responses.
In 2023, different types of natural disasters have taken place including landslides, and heavy rainfall, this year's rainy season started early in March 2023 in Yemen resulting in heavy flooding.
The rain and floods in Yemen continued till September 2023. According to Yemen National Shelter/NFIs cluster, the number of households reported affected was 44,000 (308,000 individuals), and those assessed and verified reached 33,000 HHs (231,000 people). Out of the total reported 30,000 HHs required assistance, and the number of governorates affected reached 21 out of a total of 22 governorates in Yemen, and 111 districts were affected by the floods across the country. YRCS reports also indicate that the number of HHs affected reached up to 38,800 (271,600 individuals).
According to Yemen Red Crescent Society reports and data from the Branches, the heavy rains and floods resulted in the loss of livelihoods, shelter, infrastructure, lives, injuries, evictions, and destruction of infrastructure including roads and bridges, land/fields and properties in the affected areas, 59 IDPs sites including in Hajjah governorate, Abs district, were massively affected by the floods and also as a result of floods, lightning and thunder, and rockslide 183 people were injured and 248 people have lost their lives.
According to initial projections, 1.2 million people in 168 districts are living in areas susceptible to floods and torrential rains. Of them, 383,500 people are living in 330 IDP settlements which are at high risk of flooding.