RIYADH: The Shoura Council said on Wednesday that it was studying proposals made by its members concerning the Nov. 25 Jeddah floods in order to present a detailed report to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
Muhammad Al-Quwaihes, chairman of the committee for water, infrastructure and services, said the consultative body would make proposals on how to prevent such catastrophes in the future.
“We have received some proposals from members of the Shoura and others from the public,” he said, adding that the council would give priority to the issue.
“Our committee will present the report to the Shoura president, who will hand over it to the king,” Al-Quwaihes said, adding that the report will include proposals to prevent floods in all Saudi cities.
The 150-member Shoura earlier pledged its support to the high-level committee set up by the king to investigate the reasons for the catastrophe. It also urged the government to take precautionary measures to prevent disastrous floods.
In a related development, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has ordered the opening of a bank account to receive donations for Jeddah’s flood victims.
He also formed a committee to ensure that financial assistance reach deserving people.
Prince Khaled stressed the need to organize volunteer work, bringing it under the governorate’s supervision.
“I am really proud of the volunteer and charitable works that have been carried out in the flood affected areas,” he said.
Many Saudi businessmen and philanthropists have extended generous assistance to the victims of flood.
Nasser Al-Rasheed and SIDCO Holding gave SR2 million each to the fund while another philanthropist, who requested anonymity, donated SR1 million.
Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijri, director general of the Civil Defense, said his department would review the voluntary work after the floods in order to work out an effective strategy.
He praised young Saudi men and women for their active participation in relief work.
