Faisal, Emir of Makkah, has said that the flood-hit district of Umm Al-Khair will not be demolished and that “highly experienced and specialized international companies” will be contracted for flood solution works, with “no subcontracting allowed”. Speaking at a press conference Sunday, Prince Khaled urged consultants studying rain and floodwater drainage channel projects to complete their work as soon as possible, saying that no decision will be taken on the issue until the studies are done. “King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is giving the project his full attention,” the Emir said. “Crown Prince Sultan is also closely following the phases of works in Jeddah, and is always asking what we need.” He said that the executive committee had approved the immediate start to work on urgent projects in Umm Al-Khair and Al-Samir, two of the hardest-hit districts in the recent floods, to begin next week. “The committee is continuing in its tasks until next Wednesday, and we will identify the required companies and the consultancy firm that will carry out the study,” he said. He added that the Jeddah Mayoralty will work with an international company to conduct immediate road resurfacing and repair streets, pavements and lighting. “It has been decided to divide Jeddah into blocks with a Civil Defense center in each one to tackle any emergency,” he said. “Each center will be provided with all the equipment necessary.” He said that scheduled work had begun on the five dams and was due for completion on time. “I hope that the urgent solutions are done within the next few months,” he said. “The long-term solutions will be announced after the study has been carried out, including tackling the groundwater issue. The public and the media will be informed periodically of everything that is decided and done.” He said that efforts would be made to contact “more than one company at more than one site”. “The company will be an international one with experience and expertise in the field. We will not accept negotiations with partners or agents, but will address it directly. No subcontracting will be allowed.” On compensation for loss and damage incurred during the storms and flooding, Prince Khaled said that the amounts had not changed, and that 57 assessment teams were involved in the work. “Payments have been made and the process will be finished within a month,” he said. “Compensation for houses located on floods courses will be assessed in terms of the value of the homes and land and in the legal way that all the state's projects are done. Payments will be made straight away and there will be absolutely no delay.”
