Project Overview
In late February 2006 severe flooding displaced 2,500 and killed at least three people in the Dhamar governorate of Yemen. Three metres of flooding destroyed homes and livelihoods, and seriously affected access to drinking water in the area.

Islamic Relief co-ordinated an emergency flood relief operation over two days, distributing food and emergency relief items to flood survivors.

Project Background
Yemen has not seen heavy rainfall on this scale since the 1980s. Dhamar’s roads do not have any drainage facilities which made the flood situation worse.

Most houses in Dhamar are made from mud and so could not withstand the severe flooding. Over 15 homes were destroyed in the floods. Many displaced people were able to move temporarily into their neighbours’ homes, but around 400 people sought shelter in a school and over 80 others stayed in an open, unroofed building. 

Floods have seriously affected livelihoods, as many people in this region of Yemen depend on agriculture.

Project Objectives

• To provide essential aid to flood victims, particularly those who have lost their homes.

Project Activities

• Food items including sugar, rice, flour, wheat, milk and oil were distributed to flood victims
• Non-food items such as mattresses, pillows and plastic jerry cans, were also distributed to flood victims
• The Head of the Civil Defence attended IR Yemen’s relief distributions. IR Yemen received the full support of the Yemeni government and the Governor of Dhamar.

Beneficiaries
Two hundred and fifty individuals benefited from IR Yemen’s emergency response.