Yemen on the brink of a climate crisis: Extreme heat and drought threaten livelihoods.

Arabian Sea - Exclusive

Arabian Sea - Yemen: A recent report issued by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), revealed that large parts of Yemen, especially the western and southern regions, are exposed to an unusual heat wave, coinciding with the continued drought in a number of high-altitude areas. The report, which covers the period from July 17 to 23, 2025, indicated that temperatures ranged between 30 and 45 degrees Celsius, exceeding normal rates by between 0.5 and 4 degrees Celsius, which portends potential negative effects on agriculture and grazing in the affected areas. The report also recorded light to moderate rainfall (between 10 and 50 mm) during the past week in the southern and western regions, with most governorates remaining under the influence of below-average rainfall. The report indicated that some parts of the western highlands are still suffering from dry conditions, despite a limited improvement witnessed during the past thirty days. The report warned that forecasts indicate the continuation of the drought, as the southern and western regions are expected to receive light rain not exceeding 5 mm during the next week, which portends a worsening of agricultural and pastoral conditions, especially in light of the chronic water shortage and the deterioration of vegetation cover. This warning comes at a time when the country is facing serious humanitarian challenges, making monitoring climatic conditions extremely important for assessing the food security and livelihood needs of rural communities.