JEDDAH: No official decision has been made to force victims of the November floods to return to their homes, said Brig. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Qarni, spokesman for the Civil Defense.
The statement contradicts an earlier Civil Defense announcement on Jan. 21 that people whose homes were deemed habitable would be obliged to return the next day and support to them stopped.
“Such decisions can only be made by the leaders and with their official consent,” said Al-Qarni. Denying any intention of coercing flood victims to return home, he nonetheless said the Civil Defense was making lists of people whose houses are fit to live in.
“When the leadership makes the decision to get people to return to their homes, we will have the data ready. However, no such decision has so far been made,” he said.
Al-Qarni said homes are deemed habitable if they are safe construction-wise, and have furniture and access to amenities. “This will be done in coordination with the Department of Health Affairs and the municipality,” he added.
The spokesman said that people would only be made to return when all of their basic needs are provided for.
Al-Qarni said 6,644 families have been provided with aid and accommodation and that out of 1,670 homes that have been inspected, 1,259 were found to be suitable for accommodation.
