A Shoura Council member and a leading lawyer have expressed their hope that all regions in the Kingdom will learn a lesson from the recent floods in Jeddah and set up specialized committees to preempt any natural disaster. They also hoped that all regions will adopt effective damage-control measures in the face of the calamity which struck Jeddah last week. The Civil Defense and Meteorological and Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA) officials have moved to allay fears among citizens after reports that Misk Lake in the east of the city was overflowing endangering the surrounding areas. But the warning of new rains – the city witnessed some Saturday morning – has created panic among citizens and residents alike. Fortunately, the slight drizzle Saturday morning failed to disrupt the city's daily life. Several citizens have questioned the ability of the mayoralty to cope with the situation with some even accusing officials of mismanagement and corruption. Wary citizens have started losing trust in officials and calling for a drastic overhaul of the municipality. “It was a harrowing experience. The Civil Defense team arrived after the floods took us by surprise asking us to vacate our homes for fear of more flooding. So I immediately gathered my belongings and moved to the house of my sister,” said Umm Mohammed, a mother of two. The Civil Defense officials, she said, told her that she was only being evacuated as a safety measure and that everything was under control. “But I did not believe them,” she said. Such warnings increase fear among citizens making them concerned about the safety of their families. “Obviously we are waiting for another disaster to learn some lesson. The Civil Defense sends us a message asking us to leave our houses, but when we call them they reassure us that it is only a precautionary measure,” she added. Saudi Gazette spoke to officials asking them about the steps citizens should take to ensure their rights and restore trust in officials. “Restoration of trust in officials will not be achieved unless we have a new generation of officials who are honest,” said Dr. Talal Al-Bakri, head of the Social Affairs Committee in the Shoura Council. According to Al-Bakri, citizens, especially those affected by the recent floods, should seek their rights and cooperate with the fact-finding committee ordered by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. “We want all citizens to present documents and papers proving official negligence,” Al-Bakri added. Municipality officials, he said, have been accusing citizens of building unauthorized houses in rural areas. “Here is the chance for the citizens to rectify the situation,” he said. Lawyer Khaled Abu Rashed, vice president of the Paris-based International Justice Organization and a member of the London-based International Arbitrators Institute, arbitrator at the Arbitration Center in the GCC and authorized arbitrator in the Saudi Ministry of Justice, spoke to Saudi Gazette about the steps affected citizens should take to ensure their rights. “Each citizen should ask for his rights. Saudi law does not distinguish between rich and poor, and between a citizen and a resident,” he said. He said affected people should produce all documentary evidence before the court which will assess damage and grant compensation. Abu Rashed and Al-Bakri urged the Ministry of Culture and Information to step up media campaigns to increase the awareness level of citizens especially those with a low level of education. “We should support poor and weak citizens by educating and guiding them to know their rights,” said Al
