IRIN
YEMEN: Flood-hit Hadramaut facing disease threat
4 November 2008


MUKALLA, 4 November 2008 (IRIN) - After flooding at the end of October 
in Hadramaut Governorate, southeastern Yemen, there are fears diseases 
could break out, health workers say.

Thousands of stagnant pools of waters, and piles of rubbish and dead 
animals around houses, have prompted the warnings.

The situation is compounded by the absence - and in some cases the 
destruction - of sanitary and piped water networks, as well as the lack 
of equipment and technical expertise.

Swarms of flies and mosquitoes are in evidence in urban areas, and 
swamps have developed which are mixed with sewage.

"Flooding damaged the sewage and water supply system and has created 
swampy areas; piles of rubbish are strewn around," Alabd Rubia Bamusa, 
the head of Mukalla's health department, told IRIN.

Where water networks have yet to be repaired in Mukalla, some families 
have been lucky enough to have their water trucked in by local 
charities. In rural areas many of the wells have been contaminated. The 
lack of clean drinking water poses a risk to health, especially among 
children.

Disease

The diseases most likely to cause problems are malaria, cholera, polio, 
and acute diarrhoea, according to Adel al-Hitar, an official at 
Mukalla's health department.

Adnan Bajunaid, head of the health committee at the Charitable Society 
for Social Welfare (CSSW) in Mukalla, said diarrhoea, respiratory 
infections and fever had already appeared among flood victims, 
especially displaced families.

Polio might resurface if vaccination teams were unable to reach children 
in affected areas, he added.

Health experts said epidemics could spread if swamps and flood debris 
are not tackled within 15 days - and 11 days have now passed since these 
hazards were created.

UNICEF aid

"UNICEF's [The UN Children's Fund's] major concern is to save children 
who, due to the high incidence of malnutrition, are highly vulnerable to 
the water-borne diseases that loom large after the flood has receded," 
said Aboudou Karimou Adjibade, a UNICEF representative.

In a 2 November statement UNICEF said the floods had left 98 dead and 
thousands displaced, with women and children at high risk of contracting 
water-borne diseases and being exposed to harsh winter weather. Around 
3,264 households were destroyed. Over 22,000 displaced people have taken 
shelter in 65 schools.

UNICEF said it had sent an aid convoy to help children and families hit 
by the floods. The assistance included jerry cans, storage tanks for 
drinking water and essential hygienic kits that children and families 
need in crowded temporary shelters.

Bamusa of Mukalla's health department said the authorities had begun 
removing flood debris and spraying swamps with insecticides.

CSSW on 4 November also started spraying swampy areas, and its teams had 
distributed medicines to displaced families.

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