A STORM IN THE DESERT

AND after the sandstorm came the rain. And when the rain eventually stopped, roads were flooded, cars had been abandoned and excited children splashed around in knee-deep puddles as if they were frolicking in the sea.

This is the impact of a storm in the desert – even when that desert has been transformed into a modernday metropolis and is part of a country that is now the wealthiest in the world. Doha, Qatar’s capital city, and other, less developed, areas of the Gulf state battled to withstand the torrential rain that lashed the country this week.

To be fair, when rain falls only a few days a year, drainage is never going to be highest on the list of infrastructure priorities. Indeed, the harshest impact of the most recent downpour occurred during the course of one day only, and the amount of rain that fell was reportedly much higher than in previous years.

Qatar is putting plans in place for better drainage systems by 2020. In the present environment, though, rain can result in a fair amount of flooding.

But the rapid government response to wet weather means any chaos is short-lived. Vehicles and pumps are quickly dispatched to help drain and transport water from affected areas in an effort to ensure traffic flows easily the next morning.

Qatar is putting plans in place for better drainage systems by 2020. At present, though, rain can result in a fair amount of flooding. But the rapid government response to wet weather means any chaos is short-lived

While the government does everything it can to improve conditions outside, inside the Bawa family household, it’s all hands on deck.

With Shihaam mobilising resources, we take the fight to the rain.

“Ridwaan, more towels please, I need to put them against the balcony door in our bedroom – the water is coming in there. Also, I think you should move all the furniture away from the walls. And there’s a leak in the ceiling, please put a bucket there. I’m going to check the other rooms now.”

At the end of a long, wet day, the worst seems to be over. The house is in bit of disarray, but right now we need to get the kids dried off after playing in the rain, and ready for school the next day.

“Maybe we can go to work a little later tomorrow morning and get the house in order after the kids leave for school,” says Shihaam.

I don’t even have time to nod in agreement before our phones beep. The SMS reads: “Due to the weather conditions today, school has been cancelled and the campus closed tomorrow. Thank you.”

I guess when it rains, it pours.