JEDDAH: The refurbishing of hundreds of households damaged by the Nov. 25 flash floods in Jeddah is under way, according to some private sector agencies involved in the task.
The Society of Majed Bin Abdulaziz for Development and Social Services and Modern Products Company (MPC) -- a Procter & Gamble venture -- said on Thursday they have been able to refurnish 292 households affected by the floods.
Their "Let's Bring the Smile Back" campaign raised SR1 million to refurnish the households that were badly affected by the flooding in the Um Al-Salam area of Jeddah. The campaign was launched in March with the support of Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed, who also heads the Society of Majed Bin Abdulaziz as its chairman.
During the initiative, 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale of P&G products at selected retail stores were donated. The money has been used to buy furniture and household items for 292 homes in the Um Al-Salam area of Jeddah, including refrigerators, cookers, carpets and beds.
"We are thrilled at the success of this campaign and to have helped affected families with a better standard of living, especially those who are most in need, in line with the vision and aims of our society," said Hammam Zare, general manager of the Society of Majed Bin Abdulaziz.
Turki bin Moammar, MPC's corporate reputation and trade relations manager for Arabian Peninsula, said: "As part of MPC's commitment to the local community, we launched this relief campaign in conjunction with the Society of Majed Bin Abdulaziz under the banner of our social program 'Tawasol', and are proud to have used MPC's products to help build bridges within our community and help those who are in need."
The Jeddah floods have been described by Civil Defense officials as the worst in 27 years. More than 100 people died and many more were missing. Some roads were under a meter-deep water on Nov. 26 and many of the victims were believed to have died when their cars got stuck in the flash floods. At least 3,000 vehicles were swept away or damaged, according to reports.
Recalling the horror, a staff member of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST), told Arab News: "More than 90 mm rain fell in the city in just four hours on Nov. 25. This was nearly twice the average for an entire year and the heaviest rainfall in the Kingdom in a decade. Business losses were estimated at over SR1 billion. The poorer neighborhoods in the south of Jeddah were particularly hit hard, as was the area around King Abdulaziz University. The university was closed for vacation at the time of the floods, preventing even higher casualties."
"I have no words to describe how horrible this tragedy was for many people living in Jeddah and on its outskirts. We were living within the KAUST campus, 80 km north near Thuwal, and had to face a lot of problems. But many of us did not realize the enormity of the disaster in Jeddah until the death toll was announced and destruction were made public," he added.
© Arab News 2010
