Dozens of people have been killed or are missing as floods continue to ravage Yemen, with more heavy rain expected in the coming days.
Sixteen bodies were recovered from Al Mahwit's Malhan district on Wednesday, the head of civil defence told the Al Masirah news outlet run by Yemen's Houthi rebels. At least 22 others are missing.
At least 86 people have been killed and 33,000 people affected by the recent floods across four governorates, including Hodeidah, according to authorities in rebel-controlled areas.
Heavy rains are expected to continue in western and mountainous areas until the end of September, Al Masirah quoted the Houthi-appointed prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Al Rahwi as saying in an emergency meeting on Wednesday. He directed local authorities and civil defence groups to accelerate rescue efforts.
The local meteorology office has warned of “a new wave of heavy rains”, Al Masirah reported, with residents instructed to avoid low-lying areas.
Yemen's monsoon season, which begins in March and intensifies in July, has caused particular devastation this year, displacing thousands of families and causing widespread damage.
The central highlands, coastal areas on the Red Sea and parts of the southern upland are expected to receive “unprecedented levels” of rain in the coming weeks, the World Health Organisation has said.
Severe flooding began in June and continued to worsen in July and the beginning of August, affecting many already displaced families, according to the UN's Office for Humanitarian Affairs.
The agency said more than 34,000 families had been affected by the floods as of August 9, with Hodeidah, Hajjah, Saada and Taiz among the areas worst hit by “devastating rains”.
Schools have been closed, dams have collapsed, key roads blocked and displacement camps badly damaged in the flooding. The UN's refugee agency said many of the victims were displaced families.
The flooding has increased concerns of a cholera outbreak in a country already weakened by years of war and instability. A diarrhoea treatment clinic in the city of Hais, in south-west Yemen, has seen an influx of patients, said doctors, who fear contaminated water is spreading the disease.
“The staff on duty are overburdened … the service could collapse at any moment”, Dr Bakil Al Hadrami told AFP.
The clinic received 530 suspected cholera cases between August 1 and 18, he said.
There are nearly 164,000 suspected cholera cases across Yemen – a figure that could climb to 250,000 in the coming weeks, the UN said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
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