Khaled Al-Humaidi Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The streets of the Jabal Daffan area in Makkah are narrow, dusty and not asphalted. It has no civic services or streetlights, while its terrain is difficult to navigate. Yet local residents are adamant they will not quit the area and move to other more developed areas in the holy city. The residents, especially those who have been living there for a long time, were unanimous that this underdeveloped district has become part of their lives. "It is a random district with no services yet we are tied to it and do not intend to leave," one resident said. Though Jabal Daffan is full of ramshackle houses, illegal foreigners and unlicensed shops, its Saudi inhabitants are adamant on staying in the area. They are hopeful that development projects will soon be implemented in their district. A small hill, Jabal Daffan is part of the Qiaiqan mountain range that includes Jabal Abbadi, Jabal Hindi, Jabal Al-Mudafie and many others. It is surrounded by Jabal Al-Mudafie from the south, Jabal Abbadi from the east and the Al-Hijoun residential quarter from the west. The entrance to the Al-Hijoun district is also the gateway to the Jabal Daffan area. The second entrance is through the Al-Sulaimaniah tunnels. Ahmed Abdullah Hassan, a resident, said though moving around the area is difficult due to the narrow streets, he and other inhabitants hoped these roads and alleys would be broadened and asphalted as part of the new development projects expected to be implemented in the district soon. He said the predicament of the residents has been going on for years, starting with the difficult accessibility. "The district is now easily accessible thanks to the new Al-Hijoun and Jarwal tunnels," he said. However, Hassan said the same tunnel projects that made their district easily accessible have led to reduced parking space. He said: “Now the nearest parking place you can find may be more than 700 meters away from your home. “I was obliged to park my car away and go to my home on foot, carrying bags containing my lunch. This is a real predicament for me.” Hassan said residents who have been living in the area for a long time harbor strong feelings toward the hill and their houses on it and were not ready to leave for any reason "I have no explanation for their refusal to leave except their strong attachment to the hill," he said. He said due to the refusal of his father and grandfather to leave the area, he was also forced to stay despite the numerous difficulties that he said have made his life miserable. "We found a solution to the transport problem in the use of motorbikes. Now almost every resident, especially the young ones, are using motorbikes instead of cars," he said. Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al-Mahmoudi claimed the lack of parking places were not the most serious problem for residents but the difficulty of driving on this difficult terrain. He said: “I remember very clearly that one day a vehicle skidded from the top of the hill and was only prevented from falling to the bottom when it hit one of the houses. “Avoiding a repetition of such accidents has become a source of worry for us.” Abdulaziz Al-Mahdawi talked about the construction of unlicensed buildings in the district, describing it as another problem facing the district. "The municipality prevented us from getting access to civic services because of this," he said. He also said a number of illegal foreigners came to live in the district in order to hide from the passports officers. He said: “We wake up in the morning to see new houses built and old ones demolished. “The municipality must put an end to these random houses before they become a problem in the district.” Al-Mahdawi complained about the swamps created by overflowing sewage in the area. "Mosquitoes live in these swamps, threatening our lives by possibly carrying dengue fever and other diseases," he said. Fahd Al-Otaibi, another resident, said those living in the area have been constantly worrying for two years because of the explosions to break down big rocks nearby. "Many houses are now on the brink of collapse as a result of the explosions and the continuous demolition work," he said.
