Muscat: Some areas of the Sultanate of Oman were adversely affected by weather conditions in 2024 due to heavy rains and floods, which led to the loss of some lives including children.
In April, heavy rainfall in North Sharqiyah took several lives, including that of 10 schoolchildren after their bus washed away in floods, while heavy rains due to frequent low-pressure developments disrupted normal lives, especially those of fishermen, in South al Sharqiyah, and governorates around Al Hajar Mountains and coasts.
Considering the seriousness of this issue and it potential impact on the economy, the government has been taking several proactive measures, including the development of dam reserves and drainage systems, to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources (MAFWR) has assigned a specialized company to implement the consultancy services project to prepare flood risk maps and management and emergency plans for flood risks in the Sultanate of Oman during the period between 2024 and 2026.
The project aims to update previous maps and prepare new ones that include flood plains, their degree of danger, and their areas of spread to the main and secondary wadis, which will help geographically identify the affected areas at different levels, including areas of maximum, medium, and minimum danger.
During different climatic conditions, these maps will help facilitate the operations of the National Emergency Management Committee, thereby saving lives and property in areas adjoining valleys. The maps also include urban planning requirements which must be considered when allocating sites for residences or other structures.
The project consists of three main stages, the first of which is related to the analysis of rainfall and surface runoff data, which lasts for 12 months and includes evaluation and analysis of the available hydrological data for rain stations and valleys in all governorates.
It seeks to prepare tables and curves of the recurrence periods of rainfall intensity (IDF) for each governorate, as well as the preparation of a flood design guide (FDM) for each governorate, to achieve a sound hydrological understanding of the nature of the relationship between rainfall and surface runoff for each watershed.
The second phase of the project is the flood mapping phase in flood plains and flood-risk areas, which extends for seven months and includes mapping flood risks and assessing their severity through hydrological analysis using modern programs and technologies and identifying the main channels of valleys and their areas of spread during low, medium and large floods.
The final phase, which will last for five months, will include preparing plans to manage flood risks and emergency plans in areas expected to be exposed to flood risks, preparing the necessary scenarios and procedures to be followed to control floods in the event of their occurrence based on approved flood risk maps, developing scenarios and proposals for waterway demarcations, and recommendations related to emergency plans to be followed during exceptional climatic conditions.
Earlier this year, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Monday issued Royal Decree 2/2024 to establish the National Fund for Emergencies (NFE) in the Ministry of Finance, with the prime aim of addressing emergencies and natural disasters, like climatic conditions, floods, earthquakes and other risks that might impact the country or cause damage to public utilities and public infrastructure.
The NFE will support the general policy related to procedures necessary for tackling emergencies, and provide essential funding as per actual needs to secure the restoration of normalcy to public life after the occurrence of an emergency.
NFE will have allocations from the General Budget, donations, and contributions accepted by the Minister of Finance, revenues of investments of the NFE, and any other resources approved by the Council of Ministers.
It will manage the funds of the NFE, approving its investment plans within the context of established investment policies and endorsing the rules that regulate the investment of the NFE’s funds.
It will draft an emergency report after the emergencies are over and their related missions are accomplished, while at the same time liaising with the departments concerned to conduct research and studies to gain insights on limiting future risks of such emergencies and regulate the reception of cash donations from companies, establishments, or individuals during emergencies and in the aftermath of emergencies or natural disasters. It will be not permissible to spend money from the NFE for purposes other than those for which the fund was established.
Muscat Municipality has been developing a drainage system in the Wilayats of al Amerat, Seeb, Bausher, Muscat, Muttrah, and Quriyat, areas affected by flooding incidents. Recent statistics reveal that approximately 45 percent of the capital's locales face flood risks from wadis, with an additional 20 percent susceptible to coastal floods.
The plans include an on-call service to address drainage issues during rains 24/7.
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