Saudi Flood Victims to be Compensated

By Stephen Jones

Survivors of flash floods in Saudi Arabia, which killed more than 100 people last week, will receive funding from local authorities.

Officials in Jeddah will pay families devastated by last Wednesday’s floods 2,400 riyals (US$640) a week, as well as meeting the costs of hospital treatment for survivors.

The move came after an intervention by King Abdullah, the Saudi daily newspaper Arab News reported.

“The government committee for housing has provided apartments to 2,186 people whose houses were destroyed or damaged in the flooding,” Capt. Abdullah Al-Amri, spokesman for Civil Defense in Makkah told the newspaper.

“The committee is also trying to find accommodation for the remaining victims,” he added.

The rainstorm came the day before the annual Haj pilgrimage began, where thousands of Muslims from around the world converge on the oil state to celebrate Eid Al Adha.

Many victims were caught in their cars and drowned in 6.5 feet of water. A rescue operation by the Jeddah Municipality is still ongoing.

Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal bin Majed has called on local officials to restore electricity to the region and remove the piles of debris caused by the mass destruction of the floods.

Source: The Epoch Times.
Link: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/25815/.