ADEN — At least 23 people have been killed in flash floods across Yemen since late March, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said, as heavy seasonal rains continue to batter the war-torn country and deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis.
The UN migration agency said in its latest update that torrential rains have triggered widespread flooding across multiple governorates, destroying homes, damaging infrastructure, and forcing thousands of families into displacement.
“Flooding has resulted in significant loss of life and has further increased the vulnerability of already displaced populations,” the IOM said, warning that continued rainfall could overwhelm the capacity of aid agencies operating on the ground.
Local authorities and humanitarian groups reported that entire communities have been cut off after roads were washed away, while makeshift displacement camps have been severely affected, leaving families without shelter, clean water, or access to basic health services.
In a separate incident, local sources said four children were killed in a blast caused by unexploded ordnance left over from previous conflicts in the Dali governorate in southern Yemen. The children were reportedly playing near the device when it detonated.
Yemen remains heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded munitions after years of conflict between Houthi forces and the internationally recognised government, with aid agencies repeatedly warning that civilians — particularly children — continue to face daily risks.
Humanitarian organisations have raised concerns that the combination of conflict remnants and extreme weather events is deepening the country’s crisis, as Yemen continues to struggle with food insecurity, mass displacement, and a collapsing public infrastructure system.
The United Nations and partner agencies have called for increased funding for emergency relief operations, warning that flood-related destruction could further strain already limited humanitarian resources.
Yemen has endured nearly a decade of conflict that has left millions dependent on aid, with repeated natural disasters compounding what the UN describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.
