UAE Prime Minister Announces $544M for Home Repairs after Historic Rains, Vows to Learn from Experience
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced $544 million to repair the homes of Emirati families affected by last week's record rains.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum stated that the cabinet learned valuable lessons from the severe rains and approved 2 billion dirhams for repairs.
The unprecedented deluge caused widespread flooding, turning streets into rivers, and disrupted Dubai Airport, the world's busiest for international passengers.
Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai and a minister in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced the formation of two committees to handle compensation for victims and log infrastructure damage caused by the country's heaviest rainfall in 75 years.
At least four people, including three Filipino workers and one Emirati, have been reported dead, but no official toll has been released.
Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged the severity of the situation but expressed confidence in the country's ability to learn from the experience.
Climatologist Friederike Otto believes that human-caused climate change intensified the heavy rainfall during the April 2021 cyclone in Oman, which resulted in at least 21 deaths.