Seasonal rains have fallen heavily in Yemen since the beginning of July and until the end of August, with the floods sweeping away people, trees, and stones, leaving behind tragedies whose effects are still being felt in various governorates of Yemen from north to south, and from west to east, without exception. However, the harshest impact has been on Yemenis living in the open or in dilapidated tents. Now, the biting cold of winter is approaching, bringing with it a new chapter of suffering for hundreds of displaced families who have been forced from their homes Due to the state of war that the country has been witnessing for nearly a decade.
Floods and Displacement: Pain Upon Pain
More than 13,568 displaced families, about 72,281 displaced people, live in the displacement camps of Taiz in Al-Rahba, Al-Ashrouh, and Al-Rajhi, enduring harsh humanitarian conditions amid the heavy rains that have fallen on the southern highlands, especially in Taiz, Ibb, and Al-Dhale’a. These regions recorded the highest rainfall amounts, according to the National Information Center. In the face of these severe winds and torrential floods, the displaced find themselves in an unequal battle against climate change and heavy rains, with nothing to rely on but their prayers and calls for humanitarian assistance to alleviate their ongoing suffering.
The tents are fragile, offering no protection from the summer heat or the bitter cold of winter. The services are nearly nonexistent, and then came the floods that destroyed what little remained for these simple, crushed people who were driven by the war into the open. The floods and torrential rains now threaten to cast them completely out of life, especially the elderly and children.
During the rainy season, displaced people inside their dilapidated tents, which provide no protection from the scorching sun, strong winds, or the freezing cold, are suffering even more. This has worsened their conditions, especially for women, children, the elderly, and the sick - groups that are most vulnerable in the tragic situation of these camps that were already affected by summer floods and are now facing the looming threat of winter.
The displaced families faced difficult and terrifying hours, beyond what the mind can imagine. There was anxiety and fear, crying and screaming, especially among children, women and the elderly. Unfortunately, these families have been living under tents and dilapidated tents since the establishment of the camp on March 17, 2021.
Facing a Nightmare of Rain and Winter's Harshness
Abdulaziz Shamsan, a representative of the Al-Rahba IDP camp, speaks to "Khuyut" about the conditions of the displaced in the camp, saying: "More than 176 displaced families in the Al-Rahba camp are suffering due to the heavy rains, with water flooding into their tents, destroying all their belongings, including mattresses, food supplies, clothes, and household items, during a harsh summer, with winter on the way."
Shamsan points out that these families are facing significant difficulties due to the lack of adequate shelter to protect them from the rain, cold, and surrounding dangers. Moreover, they are unable to meet their daily needs for food and water.
He continues: " The displaced families faced difficult and terrifying hours, beyond what the mind can imagine. There was anxiety and fear, crying and screaming, especially among children, women and the elderly. Unfortunately, these families have been living under tents and dilapidated tents since the establishment of the camp on March 17, 2021."
Shamsan calls on the concerned authorities to provide the necessary support for displaced families, including food and shelter aid, to ensure a decent and safe life for them.
Umm Mohammed, displaced from the Al-Tawir area, tells "Khuyut" about the damage her family suffered, saying: "When the rain started falling, I couldn't sleep. It was a terrifying night, as rain leaked in from every direction into the tent. As time passed, the situation worsened. My children's hearts were trembling with fear, and their bodies were freezing. I stood helplessly, unable to provide them with the warmth and security they longed for from me as a mother, except for some worn-out, tattered clothes."
"The heavy rains left us with nothing in the displacement camps. We are living a life devoid of the most basic sense of safety or dignity. We live in constant fear that this disaster will repeat itself. After the rains stopped, our main concern became finding something to eat," adds Umm Mohammed.
The situation is no different in the Al-Rajhi IDP camp, where the displaced have suffered the consequences of heavy rains. Khalid Maqbil, a father of three children, lives in the Al-Rajhi camp in a dilapidated tent torn by winds and rainstorms, and the floods have submerged it with shallow waters, destroying everything his family owns.
Maqbil tells "Khuyut": "Diseases have spread in the camp, especially among the children, many of whom contracted colds that escalated into severe lung infections, along with coughing and fevers. Parents, including myself, cannot protect these vulnerable lives that were brought into the world only to endure the suffering of war and the harsh impacts of climate change, which shows no mercy to either the young or the old."
Psychological Pain and Lack of Safety
Hayat Abdullah, a mother of three children living in the Al-Ashrouh IDP camp, shares with "Khuyut" the suffering the displaced have faced during the heavy rains: "Worse than the natural conditions we faced was the psychological pain and the lack of safety that affected us all when the rain and humidity flooded our tents. We became fearful of summer, cloudy weather, and thunderstorms, as these phenomena became linked with our suffering and pain."
In light of the hardships faced by these displaced people who fled the hell of war to the scorching heat of harsh climatic changes in the shelter camps in Taiz, there has been a general official and public negligence, with a near-total lack of urgent humanitarian response that includes basic services such as shelter, food, and healthcare. Many of these displaced people have lost their homes, with the number of families affected by the rains and floods in August alone reaching about 4,346 families.
Response Falls Short of the Scale of Damage
Ali Qa'id, Director of the Executive Unit for Managing Displacement Camps in Taiz, speaks to "Khayout" about the general situation of displacement camps in Taiz Governorate, saying: "The situation in the camps is tragic. Just imagine what the rains have done to homes, mountains, and valleys, and what the bitter winter will do. What about these dilapidated tents that have endured for years against all forms of erosion, only for these changes to finish off what remained?"
Qa'id adds: "In the face of the hardships of these displaced people who fled the hell of war to the scorching heat of violent climate changes in Taiz's shelter camps, there has been a general neglect, both officially and publicly, and a near-total lack of urgent humanitarian response that includes basic services like shelter, food, and healthcare. Many of these displaced families have lost their homes, with nearly 4,346 families affected by the rains and floods last August in this governorate."
He calls on international and local organizations, as well as the concerned authorities, to urgently provide humanitarian aid to the affected and most vulnerable displaced populations.
Humanitarian Suffering Exacerbated by Climate Change
According to the latest report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2024 is a year full of challenges for Yemenis, as the humanitarian situation has worsened due to the destructive effects of climate change, which has caused heavy rains and floods in many parts of the country, leading to loss of life and property.
According to the report, approximately 18.2 million people in Yemen need humanitarian assistance, including over 4.5 million internally displaced persons. Despite these significant challenges, humanitarian partners remain resilient in their efforts.
The report notes that in the first five months of 2024, 162 humanitarian organizations continued to provide assistance to an average of 2.7 million people monthly. On average, 1.8 million people received food assistance, more than 518,000 people received healthcare services, over 617,000 people benefited from water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and approximately 331,000 people received nutritional support.
