Task force to assess flood damage given one-week deadline for report
A committee established to assess damage caused by floods in the UAE held its first meeting to set plans to evaluate the condition of roads, infrastructure and dams after the country’s worst storms on record.
The committee was formed by the UAE Cabinet and is led by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, state news agency Wam reported yesterday.
The meeting was presided over by Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and attended by members of the committee from various federal and local entities. Mr Al Mazrouei outlined the tasks of the committee that include assessing the damage and proposing solutions.
Four technical committees have been established for roads and infrastructure, houses and properties, dams and water facilities, and energy and water.
“Our goal is to ensure the fast recovery of the infrastructure and to develop practical solutions that enhance the resilience of our infrastructure in the face of weather instability and emergencies,” said Mr Al Mazrouei. “The ministry, in co-ordination with various entities, has started assessing the damages of citizens’ homes and offering aid and logistic support to them. This will help us recover quickly and ease the suffering of affected citizens.”
He commended the swift response of teams from various concerned entities that worked round the clock.
Mr Al Mazrouei asked the committees to immediately start assessing damage and prepare an integrated plan to repair the damage to infrastructure, roads, houses and dams.
He set a deadline of a week for a detailed report. A team of experts was assigned to prepare a complete study on the need to expand dams and waterways so they can contain future extreme weather events.
The UAE on Wednesday approved a Dh2 billion ($540 million) aid package to support Emiratis affected by the storms.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, set out the major relief effort as he chaired a meeting of the UAE Cabinet at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.
He said the funds would be used to address damage caused to the homes and other property of citizens.
Last week, Dubai Police said they would waive all traffic fines incurred during the storm.
Meanwhile, Sharjah authorities are also assessing the damage caused, focusing on a comprehensive evaluation of infrastructure and public safety.
The storm brought the heaviest rainfall on record, with recovery efforts including clearing flooded areas, assessing road safety and providing support to families in isolated buildings.
Suggestions for short and longterm solutions were discussed by members of the Sharjah Consultative Council last week.
“We need to deal with natural disasters differently, and during this meeting, we want to come up with unique and different ideas,” said Abdullah Al Nuaimi, council chairman and former minister of environment and climate change. “It’s important we provide recommendations.” The best ideas suggested by members of the council will be presented to decision-makers in the emirate.
Short-term solutions included compensating owners of small businesses. Other suggestions included setting up large tanks to collect rainwater.
The meeting also addressed the need for buildings to have generators to maintain essential services like elevators during a power cut.
Other long-term strategies discussed included road improvements, revising construction policies to improve drainage and establishing an infrastructure authority.