- The oil-rich Gulf state of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stated that it will spend $544 million repairing the houses of Emirati families after unprecedented rainfall resulted in extensive flooding.
- The nation has approved “two billion dirhams” to address damage to people’ houses after learning valuable lessons from coping with heavy rains, according to Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
- The declaration was made more than a week after the nation of deserts was battered by an unparalleled flood that turned streets into rivers and hampered Dubai Airport, the busiest airport in the world for foreign travelers.
- In collaboration with the other federal and municipal authorities, a ministerial committee was tasked with monitoring the case and distributing compensation.
- At least four individuals were killed in the rainstorm, which was the worst the UAE had seen since records began 75 years ago. Three of the victims were Filipino laborers, and one Emirati. A second committee was also established by cabinet members to record infrastructure damage and suggest fixes.
- By last Wednesday, the storm that had poured up to two years’ worth of rain on the UAE had passed. Days later, though, the glitzy center of Dubai was severely disrupted by flooded homes and blocked highways with water. 2,155 flights were canceled, 115 were diverted, and the airport in Dubai did not reach full capacity again until Tuesday.
- Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, an Emirati expert, chastised the administration for an irrational and intolerable lack of services and a breakdown in crisis management.
Source:
AFP
