Amman, Dec. 30 (Petra) – The Ministry of Local Administration said it continues to closely monitor emergency operations centers in municipalities and joint services councils, while advancing long-term plans to upgrade infrastructure nationwide.

Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Local Administration for Administrative and Financial Affairs Bakr Rahamneh said several governorates were affected by heavy rainfall during the recent weather system over a short period, resulting in damage and service disruptions in a number of areas, particularly those with aging infrastructure.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Rahamneh said the conditions highlighted the limited capacity of some infrastructure networks to cope with the growing impacts of climate change, noting that the Ministry is prioritizing comprehensive engineering studies and the updating of technical standards to address existing shortcomings.

He said specialized engineering teams from the Ministry, in coordination with municipalities, have begun intensive assessments of hotspots and affected locations to determine the extent of damage, estimate costs, and implement temporary measures to mitigate the impact of the rainy season. Permanent solutions, he added, will be carried out at a later stage in line with approved technical and financial procedures.

Rahamneh said the Ministry is developing long-term strategic plans to adapt to climate change, based on updating engineering standards, linking urban planning to flood risk considerations, and rehabilitating infrastructure across the Kingdom.

He said the Ministry will prohibit the licensing of any buildings within valley boundaries and will take strict measures against violations that pose risks to public safety, including integrating risk maps into all licensing and implementation decisions and strengthening proactive preparedness in municipalities.

Rahamneh said municipalities have been directed to allocate funding for infrastructure projects in their 2026 budgets, underscoring the Ministry’s commitment to providing technical and financial support to municipalities in need and directing investments toward sustainable projects that reduce future losses.

He said the Ministry remains in continuous contact with emergency operations centers in all municipalities and joint services councils to ensure readiness, rapid response, and the protection of lives and property during extreme weather conditions.

Rahamneh added that during the recent weather depression, the Ministry handled more than 800 reports across the Kingdom, which were addressed in coordination with municipalities and joint services councils through established emergency operations centers.

//Petra// AJ

30/12/2025 15:07:59