Flooding kills three in Ma’abar [Archives:2006/923/Front Page]
By: Waheeb Al-Nasary
DHAMAR, Feb. 22 ) Flooding claimed three lives as rescue teams attempt to save hundreds more trapped in homes and fields in Ma'abar, a small town in Dhamar province. Fifty houses were destroyed and the number of deaths is not yet known.
A Dhamar governorate source said at least five died while 50 remain stranded in their homes due to flood water levels exceeding two meters. Two hundred residents were evacuated and taken to school lodging centers. Security authorities are setting up tents for victims.
According to the source, approximately 50 houses were destroyed and a committee is being formed for relief and damage assessment. Ma'abar citizens reported that heavy rains last Monday night destroyed several mud homes, with some trapped inhabitants being evacuated by army helicopters. Citizens also noted that the two-day rains caused immense agricultural damage and washed out the main road connecting Sana'a, Taiz and Aden.
Army units began setting up tents for affected families. The President ordered quick provision of tents and facilities for victims and opening damaged roads as quickly as possible.
Dhamar governor Abdulwahab Al-Dorah said efforts are ongoing to rescue trapped victims. He added that traffic between Sana'a and Aden has been detoured to Al-Hada area until the main road reopens.
Flooding also damaged the Bait Al-Banos area southwest of Ma'abar, inhabited by 1,500 people. Civil defense forces and the Red Cross were leading rescue operations at the time of this writing.
Dr. Abul Salam Al-Ahsab, Red Cross head in Dhamar, confirmed that three bodies were discovered, among them an 8-month-old infant. He added that affected residents were taken to Al-Fajr Al-Jaded school. Bulldozers are attempting to drain flood waters from affected areas to another area arbitrarily, a matter threatening that area's houses with destruction.
Sheikh Hamadan Bin Zayed Al-Nihayyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister ordered the Red Crescent Society (RCS) in UAEto provide urgent human aid to flood-affected residents in Ma'abar. He also ordered the RCS to offer urgent aid including food, medicine and shelter to area residents.
The chairman of the RCS, Al-Sewaidi,affirmed that RCS began implementing Sheikh Al-Nihayyan's directives, ordering its Yemen office to be present at the scene to assess damages and needs of displaced residents.
Islamic Relief-Yemen visited the disaster-affected area, supplying displaced residents with food, water, blankets and pillows, Khaled Al-Moulad, head of Islamic Relief-Yemen, said.
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