Amir condoles
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 24, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent on Friday two cables of condolences to Iraqi President Barham Saleh and Prime Minister Adel Abdulmehdi over the casualties due to the recent rain-caused floods.
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak
Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables.
Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim also sent on Friday a cable of condolences to the
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammad Al-Halbusi, over the victims of the recent floods.
The death toll from the floods hitting Iraq has risen to 10, Iraq’s Health Ministry said on Friday, adding that 22 others were injured.
As a result, the Iraqi government announced several emergency measures taken to address the crisis.
Five of the dead were from Salahuddin governorate, two in Thi Qar, one in Basra, one in Maysan and one in central of the country, the ministry added in a statement.
Following a meeting held to deal with the crisis, Abdulmehdi directed municipality and concerned ministries to mobilize all capabilities and efforts to save and help citizens.
He also asked these bodies to provide food aid, blankets and shelters as well as compensation for vulnerable people.
Abdulmehdi lauded national efforts exerted in offering urgent and precautionary aid, which reflect reassurance, according to a government statement.
He offered his condolences to the victims’ families, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded and the safety to the missing.
Iraq’s cities have been witnessing heavy rains since the early hours of Friday morning, amid expectations that the showers would continue until Saturday.
The Iraqi government declared on Friday forming a contingency team to follow up on extraordinary conditions in the town of Al-Sherqat in northern province Salah-Eddine where at least seven people perished in rain-caused floods.
Abdulmehdi is personally following up on the damage caused by the floods in Al-Sherqat, other regions in the province and Ninawa, “where a number of citizens have been missing and a bridge has crumbled,” the government said in a statement.
The premier has ordered deployment of helicopters and heavy equipment as well as taking extraordinary precautions in anticipation of further downpours in the coming days.
Several Iraqi regions have witnessed heavy rains since this morning.