Yemen’s Fatal Flood May Cost $1 Billion
The October flood that devastated Yemen, killing approximately 180 and leaving over 10,000 others homeless is projected to cost up to $1 billion. Damages include roads, houses and agriculture-all of which have been ruined. About 2000 houses are estimated to have been destroyed. The World Bank projected the figure after a group of donors met and surveyed the traumatic situation.
Yemen is already one of the poorest countries in the world and is facing a lot of internal problems in addition to the flood (a rebellion in the north, unrest in the south part of the country, and the threat of terrorism). The flood only added and escalated the increasing list of difficulties the nation is facing. It will be interesting to track how other nations respond to relief efforts and how the internal situation is affected by the effects of the flood. It seems as if a lot of cooperation on the domestic and international level will be needed in the days ahead.
Jenna Hootstein
