AMMAN — The effects of climate change in Jordan have become undeniable as Jordanians watch torrential rains sweep the streets and deserts, prompting the Kingdom's meteorological experts to call for infrastructure works to combat the growing phenomenon of flooding, reported the al rai daily.
In recent years, heavy rains have increasingly turned into torrents, eroding the soil, turning streets into rivers and overturning vehicles on the Kingdom's roads, especially in the south, such as in Karak and Wadi Musa last week, where eroded floods the land and overturned buses and vehicles on main roads.
“Climate change” is no longer just a catchphrase: its effects have become apparent in Jordan as Civil Defense and Public Security cadres have paraded. deep water to rescue people trapped by floods.
According to the director of Jordan's Meteorological Department, Raed Al-Khattab, while the "severe" impact of climate change is observed worldwide, it particularly affects countries like Jordan, whose geography has limited arable land and whose adaptive capacities are weak. “insufficient”. .
Climate change, Khattab said, is exemplified by recent weather depressions that brought large volumes of precipitation in the form of heavy rains.
Climate changeKhattab said, is exemplified by the recent climatic depressions which brought large volumes of precipitation in the form of heavy rains, impeding movement and causing many losses, especially in light of the limited capabilities of the Kingdom's infrastructure to compensate for the damage caused. because of the weather.
An amplified shock in JordanThe director of the Jordanian Society for Human Development, Dr. Ahmed Shraideh, an expert in environmental sciences and meteorology, said the impact of Flash floods is amplified by Jordan's urban sprawl extending into the valleys, the leniency of the authorities when it comes to preventing the construction of buildings next to water sewers, and the problems associated with the licensing of such buildings, which they are generally not regulated.
Shraideh called for upgrading the infrastructure in the areas that are most vulnerable to flooding and consulting with experts from Jordanian universities to address the risks associated with inclement weather.
Weather-related disasters also come at a price.
According to a World Bank report on climate change and disaster risk reduction in Arab countries, Jordan has suffered economic losses in the order of $29.5 million in the past 30 years due to natural disasters.
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