About one million US dollars are needed by IOM to provide emergency
assistance to tens of thousands of people displaced by floods in
south eastern Yemen.

Most of the displaced are in the governorate of Hadramut, which
together with neighbouring Al-Mahra, was hit by a tropical storm
nearly two weeks ago. The resulting floods have killed at least 180
people, according to the Yemeni government, with more than 100
people still missing.

Among the priorities in the relief effort is an in-depth needs
assessment of the displaced which IOM expects to carry out in more
than 111 spontaneous settlement sites that have sprung up since the
disaster. 

Information gathered will help humanitarian actors on the
ground, including IOM, to provide tailored humanitarian assistance.
It will also identify emerging needs and protection concerns of the
internally displaced.

"The situation is worsening every day for the displaced. It is
very likely that there are more spontaneous camps than we know
about and it is important that we reach these people as soon as we
can. They are in very remote areas where there has been significant
damage to roads and infrastructure which makes the task of helping
them that much harder," says Stefano Tamagnini, IOM Yemen Chief of
Mission.

In an initial and rapid assessment carried out in Hadramut last
week by IOM, UN agencies, ECHO and various non-governmental
organizations, food, non-food items and a lack of shelter were
cited as the main needs. With the floods destroying crops, farms
and water wells, the long-term livelihood of displaced people is of
growing concern.

Funds will also allow for the registration and initial profiling
of the displaced and for IOM to provide logistical support to the
government and other humanitarian agencies in the delivery of
emergency relief supplies. 

For further information, please contact:

Stefano Tamagnini

IOM Yemen

Tel: + 967 734 079 429

E-mail: "mailto:stamagnini@iom.int">stamagnini@iom.int