Gonu-newsfeeds, June 17th, 2007

Top Omani officials met to discuss the post-Gonu situation on Saturday, June 16th, 2007.
We carry here a small report.

MUSCAT – Oman suffered more than RO1.25billion loss due to cyclone Gonu, which ravaged the country early this month.
The Ministry of National Economy announced on Saturday that the initial evaluation of the volume of damage caused by the cyclone was estimated between RO1.25 billion and RO1.5 billion. The ministry officials noted that the damage to the infrastructure alone might amount to RO1 billion.
The estimation and evaluation announced by the NCCD (National Committee for Civil Defence) showed that the situation was under control to a great extent.
The NCCD, which was headed by Lt. General Malik bin Suleiman Al Ma’amari, inspector general of police and customs, met on Saturday and discussed the challenged ahead of them. The meeting was open to the media.
The evaluation revealed that the 139 relief centres hosted (took care) around 67,120 people. There are currently five centres in Muscat containing 3,150 people.
Meanwhile, Darwish bin Isamil Al Balushi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance, noted that they received donations to the tune of RO14,000,000 (as of Saturday) from residents through the banks.
Lt. General Malik Al Ma’amari told the media that Quriyat was the most difficult areas to work on included Quriyat and Al Amerat. These two areas, continued to be their focus. Quriyat has still no water connection and the only water that is being received there is through water tankers.
He also dismissed rumours of another impending storm.