Oman/Iran: Cyclone Gonu - Jun 2007

Amal Dababseh, November 21, 2012

A major flood protection project will be constructed in Sur to prevent a repeat of the death and devastation caused by flood events of recent years, including the tropical storms of 2007 and 2010. Under plans drawn up by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, the flood protection scheme will comprise of a number of components at the heart of which is a new dam that will be constructed across Wadi Rafsah.

MUSCAT - The ministerial committee set up on His Majesty the Sultan's Royal directives and tasked with overseeing the rebuilding of infrastructure and other projects affected by last year's adverse weather conditions in Oman, held its 9th meeting yesterday under the chairmanship of Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council.

The committee reviewed the status of various reconstruction initiatives approved in previous meetings.

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Brussels, 29 December 2007 - The European Commission has earmarked €369.6 million in humanitarian aid to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable victims of humanitarian crises around the globe.

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Bruxelles, le 29 décembre 2007. La Commission européenne a décidé d'accorder une aide humanitaire de 369,6 millions d'euros afin de répondre aux besoins essentiels des victimes les plus vulnérables des crises humanitaires dans le monde.

"The number of people threatened by natural disasters had increased by three times over the last 30 years and the number of people affected by natural disasters doubled every 10 years. Tens of millions of people had been affected this year by floods in countries all over the world. The link between the increase in disasters and climate change, which had been predicted by scientists, was unmistakable. Also, more people were now living in exposed areas. Some of the biggest cities in the world were built in disaster zones.

Authorities tasked with surveying residential properties damaged in the recent cyclone hope to present the final report of their findings to the government before the end of this week. An estimated 51,000 residential units have so far been surveyed during a roughly month-long effort by the Ministry of National Economy to assess the extent of damage inflicted by tropical cyclone Gonu on private homes.

As per Public Relations of Sistan Baluchistan province, the latest activities done for affected people of Cyclone Gonu in Zahedan and cities namely Sarbaz, Chahbahar, Khash, Saravan, Iranshahr, Delkan, and Nikshahr till 21:00 hour local time on 23 June 2007, would be counted as relief tents, moquettes, blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans, plastic sheets, heaters, lanterns, washing powder, soaps, rice and edible oil, cubic sugar and sugar, tea, pulses, canned beans and canned tuna fish, loaves of bread, mineral water, pairs of shoes and clothes.

The main committee formed as per the Royal orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos is continuing the inventory and assessment of properties damaged by the tropical cyclone.

MUSCAT - Qurayat wilayat, one of the worst affected by tropical cyclone Gonu, is the subject of a vigorous rehabilitation effort, Lt General Malik bin Sulaiman al Maamari, Inspector General of Police and Customs and Chairman of the National Committee for Civil Defence (NCCD), said here yesterday.

MUSCAT - As part of its efforts to speed up assessment of properties affected by Gonu, the committee formed as per the Royal orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos held its second meeting yesterday.

Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on the health aspects of selected humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and Headquarters.

Sultan's Armed Forces, Royal Guard of Oman and Engineering Services of the Defence Ministry continued yesterday to provide relief and assistance to those affected by the recent cyclone. For the whole day, the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) provided land transport for citizens and rations and essential supplies in wilayats of Qurayat and Sur as well as some wilayats of the Governorate of Muscat.

RAO also contributed to rehabilitation of damaged roads to ease the flow of traffic and carried out environment hygiene operations through its medical services in addition to providing ambulances.

MUSCAT - The Municipal Council held an extra-ordinary meeting yesterday under the chairmanship of Abdullah bin Abbas bin Ahmed, Chairman of Muscat Municipality and Chairman of the Council. The Chairman gave a briefing on damages sustained by infrastructure, particularly road networks, bridges, buildings and public utilities due to the tropical cyclone Gonu.

The council discussed action plans to tackle the storm"s effects and the action plan prepared by the executive institution which focuses on bringing road traffic back to normal at the affected sites.

MUSCAT - For the fifth consecutive day yesterday, the Ministry of Defence, the Sultan"s Armed Forces and the Royal Guard of Oman worked hard to overcome the devastating impact the cyclone Gonu that the hit the Sultanate last week. Efforts focused on supplying water to people in the Sharqiyah region, particularly the wilayats of Sur, and many areas in the Governorate of Muscat, including Seeb, al Khodh, al Maabaila, al Mawaleh, al Ghubra and al Azaiba.

MUSCAT - Losses arising out of super-cyclone Gonu"s destructive sweep through Oman last week could top a whopping $1 billion, with insurance firms likely to end up paying as much as half of this amount in insurance claims, say analysts. Gonu inflicted horrendous damage during its daylong rampage through Sharqiya, Muscat Governorate and the Gulf and Oman coast, ravaging roads, public facilities, homes and businesses, while also temporarily shutting down a number of key energy and port terminals along the coast.

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In Brief

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TEHRAN, June 10 (Reuters) - Flooding caused by Cyclone Gonu which swept southern Iran last week killed 23 people and caused damage estimated at more than $200 million, a senior official was quoted as saying on Sunday.

The hurricane damaged villages in the coastal provinces of Hormuzgan, Kerman and Sistan-Baluchestan and knocked out electricity and telecommunications in some areas, officials said. Roads, bridges and villages were also hit.

In an organized effort, the IRCS Provincial Branches of Isfahan, Fars, Kerman, Sistan va Balouchestan and Hormozgan as well as Relief & Rescue Organization did their utmost for preventive relief measures in order to combat with cyclone and reduce its impact as follows:

Preparedness activities for Hormozgan province:

1- Shipment of 5,000 relief tents from IRCS Isfahan province

2- Shipment of 6,000 mouqettes from IRCS Fars province

3- Dispatch of 1 (M17) helicopter from Relief & Rescue Organization

4- Authorization for the purchase of 50,000 KGS of rice, 20,000 KGS …

By Diala Saadeh

DUBAI, June 8 (Reuters) - Cyclone Gonu's power was waning on Friday, after it killed at least 54 people and wrought damage in energy producers Oman and Iran earlier in the week.

An Iranian official said the hurricane had weakened and its "impact will be completely gone", the ISNA news agency reported.

At least 36 people have been reported missing in the storm, which had also raised fears of a disruption to exports from the Middle East, origin of more than a quarter of the world's oil. Oil prices rose to around $71 a barrel on Thursday.

Mina al …