Sisi, Ismail discuss flood season preparation

CAIRO - 1 October 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi held a meeting on Sunday with the head of the Egyptian Cabinet Sherif Ismail and Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Yahia Zaki to discuss preparations ahead of flood season.

Egyptian presidency spokesperson Alaa Youssef said that the meeting dealt with arrangements made for the flood season, which include forming an operations room in partnership with the provinces, civil defense and irrigation officials to follow up and deal with floods.

The operation room will also take charge of following-up on measurements taken to avoid the hazards of floods, clear the main flood water drains, and complete the construction of dams and lakes. The room is currently equipped with an advanced alert system to forecast weather conditions and follow-up on rain and climatic phenomena using a remote sensing system.

Sisi stressed on the need for periodic follow-up on the preparations for the flood season, and intensifying efforts to end dam projects, particularly in the provinces and threatened areas. During the convened meeting, the president also gave directions to use the latest international technologies in the field of monitoring, and forecasting weather, and facilitate coordination between the concerned bodies in the state to ensure dealing with crises and emergencies as soon as possible.