In far-flung villages and under complete darkness, strong winds and torrential rains whipped the armed personnel carriers of the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces.
Oman dispatched troops to Dhofar governorate, centered on the city of Salalah, to help alleviate suffering caused by a tropical cyclone that struck in May 2020.
The Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense provided humanitarian assistance to residents of Dhofar. While the country’s 11th Infantry Brigade patrolled the region, the Royal Air Force of Oman carried out rescue operations for those trapped in cities and villages.
Military engineers within the Ministry of Defense drained floodwaters from government property in Dhofar and repaired downed electrical lines and broken generators. Teams from the Armed Forces Medical Services treated residents injured in the storm.
“The Sultan’s Armed Forces implemented plans to handle the impacts associated with the tropical cyclone and provided immediate assistance to the people of Dhofar governorate, as the Sultan’s Armed Forces harnessed all of their capabilities and manpower in land, air, and sea,” said 11th Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Badi.
Oman has suffered many destructive tropical cyclones; the most serious was Cyclone Gonu in 2007, which caused 50 deaths and $4 billion in damage. Source: Omani Ministry of Defense