The outbreak of COVID-19, the reduction of humanitarian operations and the volatility of the currency have deteriorated the socio-economic conditions of the country

Heavy rains destroy Yemen's Old City

photo_camera REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH - Workers knock down a rain-damaged building at the UNESCO World Heritage site in the Old City of Sanaa, Yemen 9 August 2020

The political, economic and social situation in Yemen has brought the country to the brink. Seasonal rains have added to this complex scenario, causing the death of more than 64 people in the last week alone. The beginning of the heavy rains last April coincided with the announcement of the first case of coronavirus, in a fragmented country whose economy has collapsed for more than five years. 

The outbreak of COVID-19, the reduction in humanitarian operations and the volatility of the currency have led to a deterioration in socio-economic conditions. The World Bank has warned that severe fuel shortages in northern areas, including the capital, are jeopardizing the response to the coronavirus and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. This crisis has affected - according to this institution - all aspects of life, threatening access to certain food or medical services, as well as water supply. 

The Yemeni Oil Company has reported that, as of 30 June, 22 ships carrying 500,000 tonnes of imported fuel products were waiting for government approval to unload. The heavy rains that have hit the country have made the situation even worse and caused flooding and landslides, according to the country's health authorities. 

The Ministry of Health affiliated with the Hutu rebel movement has indicated that the greatest number of deaths have occurred in the province of Raymah, located about 200 kilometers southwest of the capital Sana'a, where some 28 people have lost their lives, according to data collected by the EFE news agency. Another 21 people, including 17 children, have died in the region of Marib, an oil-rich area about 180 kilometers northeast of Sana'a, according to the health authorities of the internationally recognized government. 

The storm has forced another 1,600 families to flee their homes in the Marib area. In addition, at least six people have died from the flooding in the capital, five more in Ibb province and four in the western regions of Al Hudeida and Hayah, EFE reported. 

REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH - Ciudad vieja de Saná, Yemen 9 de agosto de 2020

These floods have also had a direct impact on certain material assets such as dams, roads and farms, especially in the Old City of Sana'a, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). According to the agency mentioned above, four buildings have collapsed and more than 100 have been damaged in the last seven days.  This city is characterized by more than 6,000 buildings built with clay and decorated with plaster, some of which have suffered the consequences of war in recent years. 

The rains have created the perfect breeding ground for the spread of diseases such as cholera, dengue fever and malaria. On Tuesday, the Hutus issued a statement calling for help to save the Old City from the damage caused by the torrential rains. For its part, the internationally recognized government has accused the Hutus of neglecting Sana's valuable heritage monuments and "endangering them by turning them into a hideout for their weapons and a refuge for their fighters," according to local media reports.  

REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH - Edificio derrumbado por la lluvia e en la ciudad vieja de Sanaa, Yemen, el 8 de agosto de 2020

This is the scene of the thousands and thousands of Yemenis for whom access to certain basic commodities is a daily struggle. The United Nations Development Programme has noted that the situation is very delicate, as "those who can afford potentially life-saving hygiene products find that their availability is limited".

"In my neighbourhood, large families live in the same house. Families of eleven or more people share the same residence and are unable to meet their basic needs. COVID-19 has exacerbated our difficult situation and life has become much more difficult," said Malak Mohammed, a young man interviewed by UNDP. "My neighbours told me that family members often have only one bar of soap to share with each other. The small bar of soap runs out quickly once everyone takes a shower. Most of the time they don't have money to buy more soap and can only wash their hands with water," he added. 

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