The owners of property damaged by the floods in Jeddah last November will be named day by day from Saturday onwards as authorities prepare to handle up to 200 compensation seekers a day. According to Yassir Al-Madah of Public Relations at the Mayor's Office, persons eligible for compensation have been divided into groups in order to cope with the numbers. “Names will be announced each day from Saturday onwards, and identity numbers and names will be published in the local daily newspapers,” Al-Madah said, and advised claimants to ensure they present all requested documents. Al-Madah said that owners of farms affected by the floods are required to produce original title deeds or a court-certified “Ownership Form No10” and original identification papers and a copy. “Those seeking compensation for furniture, cattle pens, tent or fodder need only produce original identification documents and copies,” he said. Owners of warehouses are required to produce original identification and copies plus warehouse licenses, while shop and fuel station owners need to produce lease contracts, commercial registers or shop licenses as well as original identification and copies. Owners of lost cars are required to present copies of vehicle Istimaras show the name in which it is registered, plus original identification and copies. The inheritors of persons who lost their lives in the floods are requested to produce original inheritance documents and copies or a certified proxy signed by the inheritors and a copy authorizing them to collect compensation on behalf of inheritors. Landlords of rented property are required to present valid lease contracts and reports stating the date when damage occurred, and original identification and copies. Female inheritors and owners of damaged houses, shops or vehicles are asked to arrive in the company of someone who can testify to their identity. Abdullah Al-Jadawi, Director of the Civil Defense in Jeddah, said payments would be made from 9 A.M. onwards. The Ministry of Finance announced three days ago that compensation payments would begin on Saturday, following the survey of damage to 11,799 properties and 10,913 vehicles, and authorities are keen to avoid false claims, having reported, among others instances, some 7,000 illegitimate compensation claims in Bahra. A recent meeting between the governor of Jeddah Prince Mish'al Bin Majed and representatives from the ministries of Interior and Finance to look at the work of committees involved in gathering data on the flood hit districts led to notice being brought to the Mayor's Office to “apply the laws and punish anyone found to have falsified claims or engaged in other acts of deception to obtain aid or housing”. 3,100 families that received financial aid and accommodation at the beginning of the flood disaster are reportedly being looked into for failing to complete procedures verifying the truth of their claims.
