Floods and rains in Yemen killed 17 people, including eight children, while the deaths of the new Corona Virus virus reached 500, amid the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the six-year-old armed conflict.
An official statement issued by the Ministry of Health office in Marib said that 16 people died by drowning, including eight children, while one case died from thunderbolt.
In recent days, Yemen witnessed rain and torrential rains, which hit a number of governorates, including the capital, Sanaa, Amran, Marib, and Hodeidah, as well as Taiz, Saada, and Hadramout.
The torrential rains destroyed dozens of houses, according to the estimates of the Yemeni authorities, and tropical rains destroyed hundreds of tents and centers for the displaced.
The rains led to a rise in the water level of the Ma'rib Dam and its flooding towards the natural paths designated for the flood for the first time since the dam's construction in 1986, according to Saba News Agency.
Fears grew that the dam could collapse.
The Yemeni government requested the implementation of "urgent solutions to the potential risks due to the continuous flow of torrents coming out of the Ma'rib Dam, and intensifying efforts to relief the affected people," according to a statement.
Corona in the war zone
In a related context, a Reuters statistic pointed out that the number of deaths caused by the emergence of the coronavirus in Yemen reached 500 cases, although relief organizations say that the death toll may be much higher.
According to the government, the number of people infected with the Coruna virus was 1740, including 499 deaths.
The Houthis, who control most of the major urban centers, have not provided any figures for the wounded and deaths since May 16, when the authorities said there were four cases and one death.
The United Nations says the virus is spreading rapidly across the country without being monitored, and that infections and deaths are likely to be much higher.
Yemen is witnessing internal war and external interference, which has led to massive displacement of the population and made the majority of citizens in need of humanitarian assistance.
The United Nations considers the situation in Yemen to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, where more than 80% of the population - 24 million people - need some form of assistance and protection.
The conflict escalated with Saudi Arabia intervening at the head of a military alliance in March 2015 to support government forces in confronting rebels accused of receiving support from Iran.
Since then, thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children, have been killed in air strikes and bombardments.
After six years of fighting, Yemen is witnessing a collapse in its health sector, while more than 3.3 million displaced people live in schools and camps where diseases, such as cholera, are spread due to the scarcity of clean water.