Extreme Weather and the Role of Early Warning Systems in Yemen: Al-Mahra as a Case Study

Yemen’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events due to climate change is increasingly evident throughout the country. Al-Mahra, Yemen’s easternmost governorate, has witnessed an increasing number of climate-change-related natural disasters over the past eight years, including tropical cyclones and flash floods, which have led to losses of lives and livelihoods. Based on a survey with 183 respondents, as well as interviews and focus group discussions with specialists, officials, and community members, this policy brief investigates the impact of extreme weather events on communities in Al-Mahra and the effects on lives, homes, and economic activity, including in the agriculture and fisheries industries. The findings reveal that Al-Mahra currently lacks a cohesive infrastructure against natural disasters, jeopardizing the lives of vulnerable communities whose livelihoods are increasingly at risk as climate change causes more frequent, extreme, and unpredictable weather. Early warning systems have the potential to counter the effects of extreme weather by gathering observations and forecasts, providing warnings to citizens, highlighting the risks of such events and aiding authorities in planning and responding to them. While the governor of Al-Mahra sought to establish an early warning system in 2022, it remains inactive. This policy brief advocates practical recommendations for mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events in Yemen, including activating an early warning system in AlMahra, and strengthening the resilience of local communities to natural disasters.