The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has welcomed the King's order to set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the cause of the tragic floods which devastated Jeddah last week. The floods killed over 100 people, left thousands without shelter and severely damaged cars, homes and businesses. In its statement released Monday, the NSHR praised the King's humanitarianism, which will see each family who lost a loved one, receive one million riyals. “The royal order was distinguished by its transparency, courage and straightforwardness and the genuine desire to punish every negligent [act]. It also included a noble gesture of compensation for the victims' families. Moreover, it diagnosed the root cause of the problem and [identified] ways of tackling it.” The statement also emphasized the King's determination to question those who are responsible for the catastrophe, to identify the real cause, and not to accept any justifications or excuses. Excuses may lead to a repeat of the problem, read the NSHR statement. It said the order has pleased those who were affected by the disaster and has reduced the pain of those who lost their families and possessions. “The King's [order] confirms that the Shariah makes it mandatory to probe the precise causes of this disaster and to identify those who are responsible for it, whether they are individuals or agencies. This requires the committee investigating this catastrophe, to determine the real causes and to ensure the punishment of every negligent [person] regardless of his status. This requires the full cooperation from the public to enable the committee to [successfully complete] the task assigned to it.” The NSHR has urged the authorities to speed up compensation to victims so that they can rebuild their lives.
