The National - News

Dubai Ruler sends aid for victims of Jordan flooding

- JOHN DENNEHY

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid ordered emergency flights to help the victims of flooding in Jordan.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai ordered a Boeing 747 from Dubai’s royal fleet and a C130 Hercules transport carrier to carry more than 58 tonnes of health, food and sanitation supplies to Jordan. Temporary shelters were also sent.

Both planes landed on Monday and the aid is already on its way to those in need.

Flash floods swamped Jordan in the past few days. Twelve people died and evacuation orders forced up to 4,000 tourists to leave the ancient city of Petra, a popular visitor attraction.

Torrential rains also caused problems in the port city of Aqaba. The flooding came two weeks after more than 20 people drowned in floods in the Dead Sea area.

The Dubai operation was co-ordinated by Princess Haya, wife of Sheikh Mohammed and chairwoman of Internatio­nal Humanitari­an City, a logistics centre in the Dubai desert. It was also co-ordinated with the National Crisis Centre in Jordan. Princess Haya is a member of Jordan’s royal family and is known for her humanitari­an work.

The relief flights to Jordan are the latest in a series of humanitari­an missions undertaken by Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed has also ordered scores of flights to Myanmar to help the Rohingya refugees.

 ?? EPA ?? Members of civil defence check the scene of an accident where family of six died last week due to floods in Madaba Governorat­e, about 50 kilometres south west of Amman
EPA Members of civil defence check the scene of an accident where family of six died last week due to floods in Madaba Governorat­e, about 50 kilometres south west of Amman

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