Families across Bahrain are being urged to prepare for the rainy season, with councillors calling for quicker assistance for households awaiting government support to protect their homes from water damage.
Southern Municipal Council member and Isa Town and Zayed Town councillor Abdullah Daraj has called on the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry to speed up the installation of rainwater insulation for vulnerable homes under the Towns and Villages Urban Development Scheme.
He stressed the need for a nationwide push to clear outstanding applications before heavy rains arrive.
He said some applications for rainwater insulation submitted by residents in Constituency One of the Southern Governorate, covering northern Isa Town and Zayed Town, have been pending for more than 10 months, despite applicants having completed all the required procedures and met the necessary conditions.
“Residents should not have to wait this long for work that is intended to protect their homes from rainwater damage,” he said.
“With the rainy season approaching, every outstanding application needs to be reviewed and scheduled for implementation without further delay.”
The councillor said many of the affected homes are older properties that are particularly vulnerable to leaks and water seepage. Some have already suffered damage during previous rainy seasons, he added, leaving residents concerned that another spell of heavy rainfall could cause further deterioration of roofs, walls and interiors.
“This is not simply about improving a house. For many families, their home is their biggest investment, and protecting it from repeated water damage is essential,” Mr Daraj said.
He called for an urgent programme to clear the backlog of approved applications across Bahrain, particularly in older residential areas where ageing buildings and infrastructure can leave homes more susceptible to rainwater penetration.
Mr Daraj said the ministry should set a clear timetable for completing the pending works to ensure that applications which have already secured the necessary approvals do not remain stalled.
“There must be a clear and urgent schedule to process these applications and prevent people from being left exposed to avoidable damage,” he said.
He also urged residents who have submitted applications to ensure their contact details and documentation remain up to date.
Mr Daraj said the priority should be simple: protecting homes before the rain arrives, rather than repairing the damage afterwards.
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