JEDDAH: The recent heavy rains across the region of Makkah have led authorities to cancel their environmental awareness week for the current year. The “Makkah Environmental and Cleanliness Awareness Week”, Al-Hayat Arabic daily reported, was scheduled to commence last Saturday, but due to “many of the relevant authorities being preoccupied with repair and infrastructure works following the heavy rains” the Makkah mayoralty has postponed the event until the beginning of the first school semester next year. The campaign, which involves a variety of activities at schools and government departments to try and improve the environment and the cleanliness of streets and public gardens in the Makkah region, was ordered by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, and is supervised by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment. All schools and other educational institutions were closed in the Makkah region on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the rain threat.