However, one company has introduced a novel idea to bring “beauty” in the lives of people trying to rebuild their homes.

Traco, a company that sells marble, granite and ceramics, launched on Wednesday a “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) program, pledging to distribute home decoration items to residents of Jeddah who were affected by the floods.

Ahmed Al-Saggaf, group managing director and chief financial officer of Traco, said his company wants to “give back something of value to the local community” at a time of need.

“Many of our fellow citizens currently have nothing beautiful in their lives, which is why we are launching this program. Every month we will offer a set of home decorations to selected families in the flood-hit neighborhoods,” he said.

Al-Saggaf made the comments while addressing a press conference in the presence of a number of dignitaries including Michael Zickerick, German consul general in Jeddah; Giovanni Nocera, vice consul at the Italian Consulate General in Jeddah; Hussein Ahmed Sumait, Malaysian trade commissioner; and Trad Al-Amri from the Saudization office.

“We cannot rebuild their homes, but we can give them something to uplift their spirits. All of the marble pieces will be made from Traco stock by our in-house craftsmen. They will follow the basic themes of classic Islamic art — calligraphy, geometry and flowers,” said Al-Saggaf.

He also said that, depending on the availability of stock, his company will also carry out some ceramic tiling of rebuilt homes.

Regarding how beneficiaries will be selected for the program, Al-Saggaf said his company has approached volunteers who carried out relief work among flood victims.

Bader Redwan, one such volunteer, told Arab News he and his other volunteer friends are familiar with the neighborhoods. They will prepare lists of beneficiaries and even help in delivering the home decorations offered by Traco. The actual distribution of gift packages will start at the end of July, a company official said.