The National Committee for Emergency Management (NCEM) is pressing ahead at different levels to lend support to citizens and residents in areas hard-hit during the tropical cyclone Shaheen.
Over the past three days, the cyclone claimed the lives of 11 people and search operations are under way to find people who went missing.
So far, the NCEM responded to 231 mayday calls and rescued 654 people at different sites, among them 57 stranded in wadis, 66 trapped inside their vehicles and 91 whose homes submerged.
As part of the ongoing efforts, the Police Aviation yesterday conducted 138 operations of rescue, evacuation and airlifting, in addition to aerial surveillance of the affected areas. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) operations centre received more than 36,000 reports and opened new emergency lines to accommodate the rising number of reports.
The NCEM activated a provisional operations centre in the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq, North Al Batinah Governorate, with the aim of restoring basic services and repairing damaged incurred to homes of citizens and residents.
The Sultan’s Armed forces (SAF), the ROP, the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority and civil sectors join hands in a collective search and mission. Some roads are opened and citizens and residents are cautioned against approaching hazardous areas. — ONA
Medical response, public health sector meets
The Medical Response and Public Health Sector held a meeting at the Ministry of Health today. The meeting was headed by Dr Mohammed bin Saif al Hosni, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs. The meeting discussed the health effects that may result from the recent tropical cyclone. It also confirmed the health and safety of food and drinking water, safe disposal of waste, sewage and stagnant water ponds in order to prevent the spread of disease vectors, such as mosquitoes, rodents and others. Additionally, the meeting underscored the importance of intensifying epidemiological surveillance of diseases that may be transmitted in such circumstances.
OCA collecting, sending relief materials
Mohammed bin Hamoud al Dhuhli, CEO of Oman Charitable Organisation (OCA), affirmed that the OCA is still collecting and distributing relief aid materials to areas affected by the tropical cyclone Shaheen in the governorates of South Al Batinah and North Al Batinah.
In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Al Dhuhli said that the OCA earlier announced a national campaign to collect donations from individuals, establishments and traders to offer assistance to people who sustained damages in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Al Dhuhli pointed out that the OCA prepared for emergency situations since the announcement of the climatic condition.
