Oman: Committee mulls providing temp accommodations to people who have lost houses

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. The Minister of the Diwan of the Royal Court and chairman of the committee, presided over the third meeting in the presence of the Interior Minister, the Minister of Sate and Governor of Muscat, the Secretary-General of the Finance Ministry and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Customs.

Upon the committee's invitation, the meeting was attended by the Minister of Legal Affairs, and chairman of the Oman Charitable Organisation, the under-secretary of the National Economy Ministry for Development Affairs and chairman of the subcommittee at the National Economy Ministry. The committee reviewed the follow-up report of the decisions taken in the 1st and 2nd meetings held in the past two weeks. It has also approved a recommendation on the basics of assessment of damage of totally destroyed houses, vehicles and boats.

It has also reviewed a report on the efforts of the field inventory teams since it started its work on June 16th. The field inventory has covered 123 housing complexes and 30,830 applications have been received in the wilayats of Muscat, Muttrah, Seeb, Al Amerat, Qurayat and Baushar. About 2,688 small enterprises have been counted in these wilayats. Meanwhile, the committee has reviewed a report by the victims' aid fund committee in response to the main committee's decision to provide urgent financial aid for the worst affected cases.

The committee has examined the mechanism to provide urgent aid, particularly for those who have lost accommodation and only source of living such as taxis and fishing boats. The aid will include leasing temporary accommodations for such cases. Providing urgent financial aid began last Tuesday as per applications approved by walis, which covered six wilayats in the Muscat Governorate, besides the wilayats of Barka, Sur, Dima Wal-Taeen, Wadi Bani Khalid, Jaalan Bani Bu-Ali and Jaalan Bani Bu-Hassan.

The committee expressed its satisfaction for the efforts of the field inventory teams, and the positive results reached. The session hailed the co-operation of citizens and expatriates in providing information on the damage, and urged them to continue their co-operation to make the committee's mission successful.