Kuwait government held an extraordinary meeting on Saturday to review reports on the impacts of recent heavy rains in the country, amid several parliamentary calls for the government’s resignation.
The cabinet is keenly following up with the floods consequences while all concerned government bodies are taking necessary measures to ensure safety of citizens and expatriates alike, said Anas Al-Saleh, deputy premier and minister of state for cabinet affairs in a press release.
Saleh pointed out that the meeting discussed mechanisms and means to support and ease the suffering of those affected by the excessive downpours, as well as holding accountable those who fell short to perform their duties, being government officials or contractors.
The cabinet listened to detailed reports submitted by ministers and officials on the preparations and efforts of the concerned parties in the face of these "exceptional circumstances".
Ministry of education announced that private and public schools would be closed on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Hossam Al-Roumi resigned on Friday following damage caused to properties of citizens and expatriates as a result of unprecedented heavy rainfall.
Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak chaired the extraordinary session and asserted the government was closely following up the situation across the country amid the unstable weather conditions and heavy rains.
He indicated that there are direct instructions to all ministries to take necessary measures to maintain safety of citizens and their properties, vowing that officials who will not fulfill their duties well, will be held accountable.
Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker, Marzouq Ali al-Ghanim, said that the highest priority is "to cooperate with the state agencies to cope with the effects of rainfall," after he had called for a joint meeting between the government and the National Assembly.
Speaking to reporters, Ghanim said it is now significant to work hard to reduce reflections and save lives, but, later on, affected people would be compensated and those found remiss be brought to book.
He urged everybody to work together with concerned state agencies, primarily the Ministry of Interior, the army and National Guard, so as to ensure the safety of people.
The speaker spoke highly of the great efforts of all state agencies involved to respond to the current strong wave of heavy rains, and ease out its negative impacts.
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