Several weeks after heavy rains flooded Taiz city, stagnant waters in residential neighborhoods remain a breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria, putting the lives of men, women and children at risk of deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue, cholera and diarrhoea, not to mention the long-lasting effects on their health.

Tamdeen Youth Foundation, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee IRC, and in coordination with the Local Water and Sanitation Corporation, launched today a campaign to suction rainwater from the swamps in Al Jarjer and Al Arbaeen areas, Al Mudhaffar district.

This intervention comes within the "Emergency Flood Response Project in Taiz City", funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office ECHO, which works to address the effects of floods in the most affected areas of Taiz, help vulnerable groups and residents recover from losses and damage, and reduce the risk of disease and epidemic outbreaks.

As the effects of climate change increase, the risk of flooding on residents' lives increases. Therefore, the review of urban planning by government agencies and local authorities is an urgent need to identify needs and gaps associated with water and sanitation infrastructure.

Integrated flood risk management strategies should also be developed, early warning mechanisms improved, and community awareness enhanced.