"We fear the rain, even when we expect its falling, as it often poses an existential threat to us, the people of Tihama, for many reasons—some related to its geographical location, and others to the vulnerability and the impoverished state of its people and the neglect by the authorities," says Amr Al-Qudaimi, a 26-year-old resident of Al-Hodeidah, to "Khuyut."
Al-Qudaimi continues, with sorrow in his eyes, saying, "The weather in Tihama becomes so extreme that it overwhelms human resilience and capability to cope with it—either scorching heat that sears the skin, or rains so heavy that they cause flooding, mixing rainwater with sewage over a vast geographical area that lacks both infrastructure and support."
For instance, the recent floods have caused the sewage system to overflow, leading to the mixing of sewage with rainwater, which portends an imminent health disaster. The city’s already dilapidated sewage network and the generally fragile infrastructure make it highly vulnerable to becoming a disaster-stricken area by all measures, and a hotspot for the spread of diseases and epidemics.
Statistics Indicate a Catastrophe
The FAO had previously warned through its early warning bulletin issued at the beginning of August about the "continuation of rainfall with varying intensity, predicting that many parts of the country would be at risk of flooding in many parts of the country due to record rainfall in the upcoming week, with the potential impact on over 10,000 people from the associated floods."
The organization indicated that more than 9,500 people are likely to be affected by the predicted floods in the upcoming period. These floods are anticipated to impact over 5,000 people in the Wadi Zabid area (spanning regions of Al-Hodeidah, Dhamar, and Ibb), more than 2,000 people in Wadi Siham (spanning areas of Sana’a, Raymah, and Al-Hodeidah), and in Wadi Mour (Hajjah, Hodeidah). Additionally, over 1,000 people are expected to be affected in Tuban (Lahij, Al Dhale'e, Ibb) and in the northern part of Wadi Haradh (west of Saada), more than 800 people along Wadi Ramah (Raymah, Dhamar), and in Wadi Bana (Abyan, Ibb, Al Dhale'e), while around 700 people are likely to be impacted in Wadi Surdud (Al Mahwit, Sana’a).
It is worth noting that Al-Hodeidah governorate, located in the western part of the Republic of Yemen, is one of the most affected provinces by the heavy rains that Yemen has witnessed over the last week, exacerbating the already dire health situation in the governorate. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) had previously reported over 63,000 cholera cases in 20 Yemeni governorates since the beginning of 2024 until May 31, with Al-Hodeidah topping the list.
According to a source at Al-Mahwari Hospital, who preferred to remain anonymous, the city of Bajil in Al-Hodeidah has been the most severely affected by the aftermath of the torrential floods. The source confirmed that the hospital has recorded 271 cases of cholera, with additional cases reported by other hospitals and healthcare facilities. Furthermore, a United Nations report has projected that over a quarter of a million cases could be recorded nationwide by September.
Epidemics threat Everyone
Dr. Mohammed Basha, a physician, speaks about the widespread cholera outbreak in Al-Hodeidah, stating, "Hospitals and health centers in the governorate have been overwhelmed with patients suffering from 'acute watery diarrhea' in recent times. The number of fatalities has increased to the point where hospitals and health centers can no longer accommodate them. The stagnant pools and swamps, resulting from the overflow of the sewage system in many of the city's neighborhoods and streets, have significantly contributed to the spread of various diseases, including malaria, cholera, and several intestinal diseases, which are typically caused by contaminated food and water."
Dr. Basha further adds in his interview with "Khuyut," "In addition to cholera and malaria, there are fevers such as typhoid, dengue, schistosomiasis, and Legionnaires' disease—which is a bacterial infection affecting the lungs due to inhalation of the bacteria typically found in contaminated air or soil. Moreover, some diseases that we thought had been eradicated, such as polio, are resurfacing due to vaccine shortages or ignorance fueled by regressive calls to boycott vaccinations and by the anti-vaccine propaganda. We can only imagine how this situation will worsen exponentially amidst the current flooding crisis in Al-Hodeidah."
“The issue of sewage overflow is a chronic problem affecting most neighborhoods and main streets in the governorate's capital and district centers. In many instances, residents cannot even reach the grocery store located on the other side of their neighborhood. This reality has become commonplace and routine due to the negligence of the relevant authorities and the residents' inability to pump out the water and implement local interventions.”
Neglect of the Resource-Rich Governorate
"Overflowing sewage is an old issue, affecting nearly every street in the governorate. However, the dangers arising from the mingling of sewage water with household water and its stagnation in streets and alleys due to the rains, impact everyone without exception, escalating the problem to a catastrophic level," says Hashim Talib, 40 years old.
He adds in a statement to "Khuyut," "The government has long treated the Tihamah region in general and Al-Hodeidah province in particular as marginal, as evidenced by the province's fragile infrastructure and the authorities' response to each disaster it faces. This is despite Tihama's role as the nation's food basket, its strategic location, and its cultural and religious significance, but the situation remains dire. The issue of sewage overflow is a chronic problem affecting most neighborhoods and main streets in the governorate's capital and district centers. In many instances, residents cannot even reach the grocery store located on the other side of their neighborhood. This reality has become commonplace and routine due to the negligence of the relevant authorities and the residents' inability to pump out the water and implement local interventions.
Living Adjacent to a Stagnant Swamp
Abdulali Al-Ahdal, 42 years old, a stall owner, describes the situation for vendors and stall owners under these circumstances, saying, "We—owners of stalls or shops—live amid swamps filled with all kinds of insects and waste. Imagine sewage water flowing near the stalls, shops, and even pharmacies in disgusting and repulsive scenes."
He points out that the city is lower on the western side and higher on the eastern side, causing sewage water to flow from the east to the west of the city, forming large streams that might appear to be caused by rainwater to outsiders, but they are unfortunately sewage water.
Meanwhile, citizen Nassar Azezi, 25 years old, explains the suffering of the residents amidst the compounded crises endured by the governorate's population, with the relevant authorities' response failing to match their suffering, saying: "The floods uprooted homes, most of which were built using traditional methods, swept away the simple huts and farms of the Tihama people, even demolished some concrete buildings, and stripped the asphalt from the paved roads entirely. In addition to the greater danger of mixing rainwater with sewage, which portends an unprecedented spread of epidemics and diseases."
Azezi laments, in his interview with "Khuyut," this tragic situation of the coastal city, which should have been a summer resort and a recreational destination for all Yemenis, similar to other coastal cities in other countries, such as Jeddah city in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hodeidah, the Bride of the Red Sea, boasts an extensive coastline, diverse culture, deep-rooted folklore, and other privileges that should qualify it to occupy this position. However, its current reality explains the persistent poverty and misery experienced by the province—an issue that deeply saddens every free Yemeni who truly feels a sense of responsibility and national duty."
In this context, Hashim Jahaf, 27 years old, recounts why he and his family left Al-Hodeidah, saying: "Al-Hodeidah has become uninhabitable to residents and repulsive to visitors due to the foul odors emanating from the sewers, as well as the epidemics and diseases that typically spread there due to the extreme heat, compounded by the almost complete absence of healthcare services."
Jahaf continues in his statement to "Khuyut," saying: "I have lived in Al-Hodeidah since my childhood, but I relocated to Hajjah, and I never think of returning because of what I suffered there. Each day, I used to wake up and fall asleep to the same unpleasant sights and foul odors. It is not surprising that the situation has now reached catastrophic levels due to the floods and heavy rains, which require special and effective drainage systems rather than the dilapidated and waste-clogged ones currently in place."
“The water and sewage systems in Al-Hodeidah were connected and installed in 1982, and the network was then designed for a small, non-sprawling city and a limited number of houses and shops. Today, these networks operate beyond their capacity by 1000%. One can imagine the immense pressure after the governorate's expansion and population growth, compared to a limited network that does not reach all areas of the governorate, in addition to the weakness and inadequacy of the existing infrastructure, exacerbated by the severe low-lying nature of the governorate, which did not help in draining the recent floodwaters.”
Challenges of Responsibility and Capabilities
For his part, the Deputy Director of the Sewage Corporation in Al-Hodeidah Governorate, Ahmed Al-Hamadani, speaks to "Khuyut," saying: "We, at the General Establishment for Water and Sanitation, are exerting every possible effort to deal with this pressing issue that affects us all, within our limited and scarce capabilities. However, the recent floods have caused significant blockages in our sewage networks, which are already severely outdated. These networks were installed 72 years ago and have suffered from neglect in maintenance and repairs, which accelerated their deterioration. Therefore, the situation requires urgent central intervention and support."
Al-Hamdani continues, "The water and sewage systems in Al-Hodeidah were connected and installed in 1982, and the network was then designed for a small, non-sprawling city and a limited number of houses and shops. Today, these networks operate beyond their capacity by 1000. One can imagine the immense pressure after the governorate's expansion and population growth, compared to a limited network that does not reach all areas of the governorate, in addition to the weakness and inadequacy of the existing infrastructure, exacerbated by the severe low-lying nature of the governorate, which did not help in draining the recent floodwaters."
Al-Hamdani suggests two potential solutions to avert the catastrophe. The first is to replace the existing network with a newer, larger one as quickly as possible. However, this solution seems nearly impossible given the current circumstances in the country. The second option is to construct an additional network alongside the existing one, ensuring it covers the entire city. Although this would also require substantial funding, the advantage lies in the element of time; it would be on the side of those responsible for its construction.
