An unforgettable March...

Phew! March has been an incredible month of testing challenges.

The month began with the region being tossed into a conflict that seems to continue aimlessly, triggering military and diplomatic crises.

The fasting was going on as the conflict continued to take lives while uncertainties mounted. Logistics went berserk, and oil prices surged. The Strait of Hormuz closure led to almost a 96 per cent decrease in maritime traffic. The region went into a state of high alert especially at ports. Hyperinflation in the logistics sector and delays in the supply chain have been noted.

We might even have to see new overland 'food corridors' in the region.

The Sultanate of Oman continues the diplomatic channels.

The normal conversations have also been about how the 'War Risk' insurance surcharges could make everything from electronics to basic goods more expensive.

Everyone waited for Eid, and just when the celebratory mood was in the air, in came the low-pressure Al Masarat trough with rains followed by roaring wadis. The desert turned into sea, and wadis became rivers. The transformation of the landscape manifested right in front of our eyes.

Vehicles were lost, lives were risked, and then the learning of the legal consequences of crossing the wadis began.

Emerged from it were the heroes. March is when I go around taking pictures of wild flowers in Oman. To me, that is the arrival of spring. The wildflowers announce it quietly.

This time around we saw, thanks to social media and people equipped with mobile phones, officers, citizens, and residents who leaped into action to save lives. Officers from Civil Defence and Ambulance Services and the Royal Oman Police managed widespread wadi rescues. Vehicles were swept away. The search for the missing and the constant alerts from the ROP kept everyone on edge.

The professional calm these teams maintained while the rest of the country watched anxiously is something nobody will forget.

They are the reason 'An Unforgettable March' isn't remembered solely for its destruction but for the lives that were pulled back from the brink. ROP aviators performed daring winch rescues in Al Batinah South, hovering mere meters above raging water to lift families from the roofs of submerged vehicles.

CDAA divers had to dive in the dark as they operated in near-zero visibility in flooded basements and stagnant pools to ensure no one was trapped, often tackling powerful undercurrents. And not to forget navigating 'electrified' waters due to downed power lines and maneuvering hidden debris while tackling sewage contamination. Officers had to supervise wadi crossing areas, and we have to think about this. They have to be there because we continue to attempt crossing running wadis.

We saw humanitarian initiatives being launched, such as the one by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs titled 'We Will Strengthen You with Your Brother' to aid flood-affected families. Restoration efforts have seen electricity and major road networks nearly fully restored.

Moving onto the world there was this shipment in Europe that went missing while in transit between Italy and Poland. No, it was not priceless paintings or precious metals. This was the high-profile 'chocolate heist' in Europe. The tonnes of chocolates could be traced if they begin to be circulated because the company says they can trace the stolen goods through the scanning of the unique batch codes found on each bar. They would have to move before the expiry date. But of course there could always be unofficial sales channels.

But this is not all — a new, weaker weather trough is forecast to impact Oman between March 31 and April 2, though with significantly reduced intensity compared to Al Masarat.

Meanwhile, get ready for some space talk in April, as Nasa is currently preparing for the Artemis II moon mission launch scheduled for early fourth month of the year.

Then there were good moments too in March — a historic moment occurred as Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography for the film Sinners.

This month also belonged to Shahzad Khan, the 25-year-old Pakistani resident of Oman from Peshawar who became a hero in Oman. He rescued two Indian residents who were stranded in their vehicle, stuck in the flowing wadi in Barka. He did not hesitate to jump onto the vehicle to open it and pull the people out. And Shahzad does not know swimming. Bravery is an asset.

So the month might have been relentless, but we found heroes to celebrate.

Wish you a good April.