At least 41 dead in Yemen floods

At least forty one people are dead and dozens are still missing in Yemen after torrential rain left swathes of the country under water. Yemen is prone to flooding at this time of year but not on this scale.

The worst hit area in the south east suffered a thirty hour downpour and has been declared a disaster zone by the Yemeni authorities. At least one Army helicopter has been involved in the rescue effort. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world and resources are scarce. It is also struggling against a rebellion in the north and south and an al qaeda resurgence.

Meanwhile aid agencies are doing what they can but the floods caused heavy damage to roads and power and water distribution networks. Getting aid to people who need it is proving a difficult task. Around two thousand homes have been destroyed and children are amongst the dead

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