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Amid worsening climate change and political instability, Yemen’s historic cities — Old Walled City of Shibam-Hadhramaut and the Old City of Sana’a — face rising flood risks, threatening lives and cultural heritage. In response, in 2023, UNESCO, supported by the Government of Japan, launched the project "Building Climate-Resilient Communities in Yemen’s Historic Cities through Enhanced Disaster Risk Management and Awareness." Thanks to this initiative, both World Heritage sites now have flood early warning systems and tools to help communities anticipate threats, take preventive action, and reduce emergency response costs.

The project’s objectives included:

• Develop disaster risk management skills
• Improve tracking of flood risks
• Raise awareness related to DRR
• Ensure inclusivity and representation

The project was based on a strategy that builds local strength and promoted teamwork across sectors, while also aligning Yemen’s efforts to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Capacity-building activities were organized and targeted local stakeholders, including IT experts and GIS specialists from ministries, national entities and DRR management bodies. It ensured equal participation of men and women in training and awareness campaigns. Women were encouraged to engage in discussions on DRR, gender-specific challenges and efforts targeted on how to protect families.

Tailored media campaigns targeted communities in the Old Walled Cities of Shibam and Sana’a, including non-literate groups. These campaigns used local radio stations, social media platforms, printed materials, and video content to disseminate critical information on disaster preparedness and early warning measures.

Following the success of this initiative, the next step is to expand the program to more flood-prone areas in Yemen, ensuring that disaster preparedness becomes a nationwide priority.