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90 dead, 20,000 displaced in Yemeni floods

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-28 11:29

SANA, Yemen -- A Yemeni police official said Monday that 90 people have been killed so far in massive flooding in the south of Yemen caused by a tropical storm four days earlier, while the UN's World Food Program said 20,000 people have been displaced by the floods.

Residents gather at the site of collapsed houses in the oil-rich Sah district in southeastern Yemen October 27, 2008. About 100 people are dead or missing in Yemen after severe flooding caused by torrential rain affected large areas of the country in the past few days, a government official said on Sunday. [Agencies]

The WFP said it has been difficult to get relief to the remote region because most roads have been destroyed by the floods set off by the tropical storm that smashed Thursday into the remote Hadramut province.

The damage was extensive because most homes in the area are made of mud brick.

The police official who gave the latest toll spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said that 24 farms and 58 wells have also been destroyed.

Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, called on private citizens and non-governmental organizations to assist victims of the flooding by donating money and relief. Security officials said relief efforts are currently trying to identify the needs of affected areas to expediate relief. But some victims don't think enough is being done.

"Efforts are too slow," said Akeel Al-Ataf, a member of Hadramut province's municipal government. "We haven't seen any food or medicine in three days, and the relief efforts are chaotic."

Al-Ataf said no coordination existed between NGOs and the local government, causing anxiety among victims needing help. He said vehicles and airplanes continue to find it difficult to reach affected areas because of the flooding.

Neighboring Arab countries have sent planes with relief to Yemen in the past few days. Oman sent medical supplies to Yemen, while the Emirati Red Crescent gave $100 thousand to the efforts.

Besides buildings and farms, about 7,000 beehives have also been destroyed, according to local reports.

Yemen's honey is considered among the best and most expensive in the world, fetching at least $50 per kilogram (about 2.2 pounds). Yemenis treasure honey as a natural product especially good for the sick, particularly those suffering from liver problems.