SANAA: Aid operations swung into higher gear in Yemen yesterday after floods killed at least 58 people and six more died from lightning strikes during two days of fierce storms.
The Interior Ministry, updating an earlier toll, said at least 58 people died in flooding fed by torrential downpours that hit Hadhramaut and Mahara provinces on Thursday and Friday.
At least five others were reported missing in Mahara.
Four people were also killed by lightning in the southern provinces of Tayez and Lahj, and a mother and son also died when struck by lightning in the Al-Mahwit region, north of the Yemeni capital Sanaa. But the toll could rise even further as rescue teams searched for victims who may still be trapped in homes swept by the floods. Meanwhile, the authorities launched airlifts to fly aid to the stricken areas.
A first batch of six aircraft took off from Sanaa yesterday loaded with tents, food and medicine for the Hadhramaut, capital of Al-Mukalla and Mahara, airport officials said.
“Other airlifts are scheduled for later in the day,” one official said, adding that public and private organizations had joined ranks to help victims of the disaster. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) described the situation as a “national catastrophe” and launched yesterday a drive to collect funds to help Yemen’s flood victims.
OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu urged member states as well as charity organizations in Muslim countries to help Yemen surmount “the grave humanitarian crisis.” Ihsanoglu called for “OIC solidarity with the people of Yemen in these difficult circumstances” and also urged the international community to provide assistance to Yemen.
