No Egyptian casualties in Hurricane Harvey: FM

CAIRO – 29 August 2017: The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ahmed Abu Zaid, said on Tuesday that the Ministry is closely following up on Egyptians’ situation in Texas after Hurricane Harvey. Abu Zaid confirmed that there were no Egyptian casualties among those in Texas as a result of the hurricane despite the significant material losses in general.

He added that the Egyptian General Consular in Houston, Khaled Rady, is constantly providing the Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad, Khaled Rizk, with all relevant updates regarding the safety and security of members of the Egyptian community in the province.

The spokesperson also urged all Egyptian citizens in Texas to strictly follow the instructions by the U.S. government and to stay in their homes as water levels continue to rise in the streets.

Abu Zaid stated that the Egyptian General Consular in Houston is in direct contact with the U.S. authorities. He ensured that all necessary aid is provided in the province including opening shelters to receive affected persons who lost their homes and providing required hygiene and food assistance to them.

Hurricane Harvey hit Texas on Friday as a Category Four hurricane, tearing down homes and businesses on the Gulf Coast before dumping an "unprecedented" nine trillion gallons of rainfall inland. The hurricane is threatening a new landfall on Wednesday. This is the first natural disaster under Trump’s administration and the worst disaster in the history of Texas. Trump declared a state of emergency in Louisiana neighborhood following the hurricane’s hit.