Today's Edition
DINA MAHMOUD (LONDON) - When discussing the difficult situation Yemen has faced over the past 10 years, most focus on the political, economic, and humanitarian implications of the ongoing conflict within the country. However, Yemeni citizens are facing another grave risk that is often overlooked – consequences of climate change and, in particular, climate shocks ranging from record-breaking heatwaves to devastating floods.
Climate-related circles agree that, due to the ongoing conflict in the country, Yemenis lack proper measures to protect themselves from the risks of climate crises and shocks, even though the pace of these climate events is accelerating. The United Nations warned a few days ago of severe floods and devastating winds in Yemen, coinciding with the beginning of the effects of hurricane “Tej”.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said: “The hurricane ‘Tej’ is affecting the Socotra Archipelago with strong winds and heavy rains, and it is on its way to developing into a severe tropical cyclone, potentially impacting the Mahra Governorate in eastern Yemen.” The organisation added that “destructive winds, dangerous storms, and severe floods are likely to occur as it approaches the coasts of Yemen”.
According to experts, the damage Yemen will face due to the impacts of climate change is expected to be worse than its neighbouring countries, which enjoy stability and much better infrastructure, allowing them to deal with the continuous rise in Earth’s temperature and the risks that result from it more efficiently. The United Nations organisation urged humanitarian affairs managers and decision-makers to include tropical storm Tej in their plans and monitor the situation, noting that it can develop rapidly and cause widespread damage during landing.
According to experts, the current data on the climate situation in Yemen suggests that over 6.5 million citizens may be exposed to high temperatures for at least one month annually until the end of the decade, which poses a big health risk. This figure is three times larger than the one previously recorded in 2000.
Experts warn that this threat already partially exists in some regions, especially the Al Hudaydah Governorate, which is described as one of the hottest and poorest areas in Yemen. This situation is difficult to ignore, as the residents have already experienced a severe rise in temperatures during the summer months.
According to estimates by climate researchers, by 2030, the period during which Al Hudaydah will experience dangerously high temperatures will exceed 150 days per year, which is nearly five full months.
This means that spending any time outdoors, even in the shade, will pose a health threat to the population. In statements published by the American newspaper “Washington Post”, doctors from this Yemeni governorate said that the extreme heat exacerbates the suffering of the population there, especially since they are already facing severe levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. This particularly affects children, who are generally more prone to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
