JEDDAH: Adil Zamzami, head of the Civil Defense in the Province of Makkah, has said that the two flood disasters in Jeddah have shown the successful coordination between government authorities in providing an immediate response to the events. “The coordination was conducted through the Immediate Committee which has on it members from all government departments working around-the-clock to pass on information and gather all reports and information,” he said. Zamzami, speaking in an extensive interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette, said that the Civil Defense was also in continual contact with the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment. “We have a hotline through which we are in constant contact around-the-clock, and the Presidency also has its Internet website which is continually updated to provide reports on any changes in weather conditions for any authority concerned,” he said. On suggestions that the Civil Defense did not have sufficient equipment to cope with the challenges posed by heavy flooding, Zamzami was unequivocal in his denial. “It's not true,” he said. “We are backed by the state and have been supplied with all the equipment and facilities we need in all areas of the country, particularly Jeddah, in terms of machinery and human resources and other equipment. Whenever floods strike it is always going to be difficult to move into action as streets are flooded and blocked. “That's something that happens all over the world, even in countries with the most advanced equipment. I'd like to point out that we made great use of our aircraft which are based in Makkah, and other aircraft that were drafted in from other regions to help respond to the flood situation in Jeddah. They performed the tasks they were assigned with very successfully.” Zamzami said that there are plans to expand the Civil Defense airbase, but that the force is equipped with “good numbers” of aircraft. “We also have aircraft in other regions such as Asir and Riyadh which back up Makkah when disasters like the floods in Jeddah occur,” he said. “They are particularly important when it's difficult to get heavy equipment into residential areas as occurs in times of flooding.” As to emergency accommodation for people forced out of their homes, Zamzami said that many temporary locations and permanent sites were available, with designated places such as wedding halls, schools, enclosed sports centers, furnished apartments and hotels registered with the Civil Defense across the country. “We also have camps run by the Ministry of Finance,” he said. “But some sites are unavailable in times of heavy rains and floods and they too are subject to the resultant damage or made inaccessible by the same events.” Zamzami reassured the public that the search for the remaining missing bodies had not been called off. “We have all our staff and equipment working 24 hours a day at the site in question, and we won't withdraw them until the final body has been found,” he said. He added that a lot of lessons had been learned from the previous fatal floods in Jeddah. “All government departments have learned from them,” he said. “We learned in terms of damage and precautions and in knowing what is required to confront emergency situations such as the current one we are dealing,” he said.
