Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Relief organisations involved in the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts in Khabourah and other areas affected by cyclone Shaheen are sparing no efforts to restore normalcy at the earliest.
Among those involved in overseeing efforts in cyclone-hit locations is Hassan Al Barmani, the director of Al Khabourah Municipality, who has, since the start of adverse weather effects, been driving around in his personal vehicle to assess the needs of people and meet them as best as he can.
“From the early hours of the morning, until the late hours of the night, my team and I were guiding bulldozers to fill up pools of stagnant water created by the cyclone, showing construction teams where paving of roads was required, and helping search and rescue parties remove mud, rocks and other obstacles from streets and homes,” he said.
“If we weren’t doing this, then we were assisting people to load into trucks the debris and waste that had been collected so far,” added Al Barmani.
“The reality is that in the wake of Shaheen, the damage was severe: fast-flowing wadis meant the movement of rescue vehicles was impeded, water had entered many areas and formed stagnant pools, in which people could drown or injure themselves, and many roads were simply unusable.”
“Until I see the last of our citizens and residents affected by the cyclone receive the help they need, I will not feel comfortable,” he explained. “It is immediately after Shaheen that they needed us. It is only fair that we sacrifice our time and effort for them…we continue to work hard to provide them with comfort.”
Explaining how he help coordinate relief and emergency actions in the form of field visits and inspections to people’s homes, Al Barmani said his efforts were driven by his responsibility to help the citizens and residents in his wilayat.
His days in the immediate aftermath of Shaheen involved commissioning bulldozers to clear debris, organising teams to clean up homes, hire trucks to pave roads and carry waste and debris, level spaces in neighbourhoods, and, after which he would return to his office to conduct meetings and appraise the developments of the various departments involved in relief efforts.
The director of Khabourah Municipality has vowed that once rebuilding is complete, his region will be more beautiful than it was previously.
“This is a test for us to overcome our challenges, with the support of those around us,” he explained. “We have finished a lot of the work we need to do, although there are still some responsibilities that remain. I would like to add that whether in the field or at the municipality headquarters, people can approach us for help and we will respond accordingly. We remain available to provide our services and meet everyone’s needs, if we can.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Development has asked families in cyclone-affected areas that have not yet registered for financial aid to fill in their online form, the link for which can be found on their Twitter page. Alternatively, they can visit https://www.mosd.gov.om/index.php/ar/shaheen.
Alternatively, they can call any of the MOSD offices in Suwaiq (2696 0316), Saham (2695 9818), Mussanah (2697 0513), and Khabourah (2680 0623).
People who fill in the online form need to provide their full name, ID card number, the governorate, wilayat, and village in which they live, as well as their accommodation type and economic status. They are also required to provide their family size, house number, phone number, electricity meter number, the impact of damage caused to their home and other associated facilities and personal belongings.
Those who wish to can attach photos of the damage caused as proof of the cyclonic impact.
