Yemen - In the first two weeks of November 2015, two cyclones, Chapala and Megh, made landfall across the southern coast of Yemen. As part of ongoing support to the affected population, IOM provided humanitarian assistance to over 2,000 vulnerable internal displaced families on the island of Socotra.

With a population of 44,000, Socotra, located 240 kms east of the Horn of Africa and 380 kms south of the Arabian Peninsula, off the southern shore of Yemen, was one of the areas worst affected by the cyclones.

Through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), IOM identified 2,210 households in need of assistance in 30 distinct locations in Socotra’s Hidaybu and Qalynsia districts. Simultaneously to the DTM assessments, IOM conducted rapid assessments to identify the needs and conditions of the most affected population.

Twenty six per cent of the respondents reported shelter, basic supplies and community structures restoration as being their highest priority. These were followed by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), health and education. Many families were forced to leave their flooded and damaged homes, and had to resort to tents and other temporary shelters. 

IOM teams were deployed to the island and have been supporting the most affected populations through distributions of non-food relief items (NFIs) and provision of emergency medical care.

In the absence of regular commercial flights, shelter and NFI kits were airlifted from IOM warehouses in Nairobi, with the support of the Logistics Cluster, through three charter flights landing in Socotra on November 24, 26 and 27.

The kits included tarpaulins, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, buckets, rope and sleeping mats. They were distributed to the most vulnerable families and done in coordination with local community leaders.

IOM also deployed a mobile medical team, consisting of a doctor, a nurse, a health promoter, a psychosocial worker, and a midwife. They are providing essential healthcare services, in coordination with the local Office of Health, particularly in the Nojid area.

For further information please contact Stefano Pes at IOM Yemen, Tel: +967 7340 00385, Email: spes@iom.int