Faisal, the Emir of Makkah, has confirmed that all persons have been identified who are linked to the city's poor preparations for last November's major flood disaster. He said those who are linked to causing the disaster have already been identified in the report issued by the fact-finding committee which he had chaired about a month ago. The committee had investigated the causes of the flood. Prince Khaled's comments come in the wake of King Abdullah's announcement Monday that all officials and businesspeople involved in corruption and maladministration related to the floods will be prosecuted. The disaster killed 123 people, stranded thousands and caused widespread damage to property. Prince Khaled expressed his thanks and appreciation to King Abdullah for his firm decision on the matter. “We are accustomed to such developmental and progressive decisions by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.” He said the King's decision “touched on all the conclusions” made by the fact-finding committee and the higher committee chaired by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior. Prince Khaled also thanked Prince Naif and the ministerial committee for their recommendations that will ensure all future work, by the private and public sectors, is carried out properly. He said the King's decision emphasizes that no one is above the law because it stipulates punishment for every individual responsible for the disaster, regardless of status. The King's order also includes guidelines defining all development work and the rehabilitation of eastern Jeddah. Prince Khaled prayed to Allah to enable all the officials to measure up to the King's expectations. Citizens affected by the flood disaster have also expressed their thanks and gratitude to King Abdullah for his decision to have those responsible prosecuted by the Investigation and General Prosecution Commission and the Control and Investigation Bureau. The residents of eastern Jeddah who were affected by the flood disaster described the King's decision as historical because it will bring to an end the problems that caused the situation. They also praised the King's decision to approve urgent allocations to carry out flood canal projects to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy. They added that it was in the public interest to stop the sale of all land on valley beds. Ahmad Al-Sulami, a resident of Quwaizah District, said: “The King's decision is firm and just. It is a victory for the residents of the affected districts. They see the punishment of those who were proven to be implicated in the disaster, as an important measure to eliminate corruption in all its forms.” Muhammad Al-Jihani, a resident of Al-Sawa'ed District, said: “The royal decision has pleased all citizens and residents. We are also grateful to King Abdullah for the compensation he ordered for those who were affected by the floods. This assures all of us that justice will be done regardless of the status of those who were involved in the disaster.”
