These are videos from the most recent flooding to occur in Jeddah just today. In November 2009, there was also severe flooding, and the number of casualties was widely believed to be greatly under-reported.
Widespread corruption is to blame. Contracts were not fulfilled, monies were absconded by unscrupulous businessmen, and the people are left to suffer every time it rains in the city of Jeddah.
Luckily I am not in Jeddah right now.
I am sorry there is so much suffering. I spent a week in New Orleans three years after Katrina, and the damage and suffering from the flood there was still abundantly visible.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are not there.
Very sad, InshaAllah those who can change the system so this is prevented in the future will get up and DO IT
ReplyDeleteThat's really scary! I hope not too many people loose their home or worst their lives :(
ReplyDeleteTerrible! There are floods in Hawaii also, but nothing like this.
ReplyDeleteInshallah people will be ok. Its sad that businessmen that call themselves Muslim would abandon projects that are meant to help people.
ReplyDelete@Cynthia, recent tallies confirmed that over 10,000 homes were destroyed, and that it will continue to rain on-and-off for the next two weeks.
ReplyDeleteA neighbour of mine had a baby on the day of the flood at the hospital and her husband waded through waist-high waters for over two hours before arriving at the hospital.
Over Jeddah, helicopters have been flying overhead all night, leading rescue missions.
King Abdullah has said whoever was to blame would be severly punished - I hope he is serious.
Oh gosh, how terrible. Here's hoping that something will be done about this!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear this is happening again. It seems to be almost a world wide problem and I expect it will get worse rather than better in the years to come.
ReplyDeletelooks very bad - having had similar ones in Muscat it will take a long time to recover.
ReplyDeleteI assume that when those responsible are severly punished that the person who is in charge of Jeddah and its region will be included
Two amazing and frightening videos.
ReplyDeleteIt can only make anyone angry that most of the damage is due to corruption. The revolution currently under way in Tunisia had corruption and nepotism as one of its main sources of popular anger - most of the region suffers from the same. I wonder how long it will take for these systems to be destroyed.
Anonymous, the story about the lady wading for 2 hours through waist-high waters before she was able to reach the hospital is terrible. I hope she and the baby are safe.
ReplyDeleteWe've been reading alot about the "punishment" for those negligent persons after the Nov. 2009! Until now there is nothing done yet to minimize the flooding in Jeddah!!! Only the Cornich roundabouts were constructed and made it beautiful especially during weekends! They may not believe that like any other country, "Global Warming" is being felt! They may thought of being exempted in the phenomena and not in the same planet....-earth!
ReplyDeleteEveryone in the world should know this:
ReplyDeleteWhat happened in Jeddah on Jan 26, 2011 was NOT a natural disaster!
It was a result of the corruption and greediness of the government and its officials!
It was only simple "innocent" rain that falls everywhere around the world!!
We are so angry and sad! We will never forget nor forgive!
The hot sunshine of the coming summer will never dry up our anger!
Maha