Yemen Monitor – Newsroom:
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of the risk of flash floods in Yemen that could damage more than 400,000 hectares of agricultural land, in addition to potential losses of large numbers of livestock.
In a recent bulletin, the organization stated that the period between March and May 2026 may witness heavy rainfall, increasing the likelihood of floods originating in the highlands and flowing into valleys and low-lying areas.
It explained that estimates indicate more than 409,000 hectares of farmland, along with about 1.7 million small ruminants, fall within high-risk zones—particularly in the valleys of Siham, Zabid, Rima, and Sardaud, across the governorates of Al Hudaidah, Sana’a, Ibb, Al Mahwit, and Dhamar.
The organization added that Al Hudaidah governorate holds the largest share of threatened agricultural land, especially in the Wadi Siham basin, while the Wadi Zabid basin is considered the most vulnerable to livestock losses—raising concerns about significant damage to the agricultural sector.
It noted that while heavy rains may help improve crop and pasture production locally, these benefits remain limited due to fragile food security conditions caused by ongoing conflict, economic decline, and heavy reliance on markets.
The FAO stressed the need to strengthen early warning systems, prepare for flood risks, adopt climate-adaptive agricultural practices, and improve water resource management.
It also called for expanding food assistance in affected and at-risk areas, implementing nutrition-linked agricultural programs, providing cash support to the most vulnerable households, enhancing multi-sectoral response efforts to reduce displacement and loss of livelihoods, supporting veterinary services, and investing in the rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage systems.
Source: FAO
