The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has called on authorities to take urgent action and ensure products from Madina Al-Khalil Farms and well water there are safe, said Dr. Talha Muhammad Ghouth, a member of the society in Madina. “We have not received any complaints about any type of contamination, but that does not mean the NSHR should not intervene,” he said. Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Madina Region, has written to several authorities directing them to address the issue forthwith. The letter said soil samples have shown that they contain strong poisons as cyanide and cobalt. Water samples from wells have shown the same results. The letter was sent to the Madina Mayoralty, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), Control and Investigation Board (CIB), Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), the Directorate of Water and the Directorate of Agriculture. Dr. Ghouth said the NSHR is following up this case to see what procedures authorities will take to locate and control any contamination. The SFDA, Environmental Health Authority of Madina Mayoralty and agriculture officials should start fighting and controlling contamination, and ensure the safety of products brought to various markets in the region, Dr. Ghouth added. “Agriculture and well water should be tested as soon as possible,” he said. He called on the mayoralty to start contacting authorities to take action and reminded it of the role played by authorities in a similar incident in Hamraa Al-Asad District, adjacent to the industrial waste dump. Authorities at the time took all necessary measures to ensure the safety of food and human health; they asked people not to drink well water, halted sale of products from the area and provided clean water to the inhabitants. A source at the Directorate of Agriculture said it has not conducted studies into the Al-Khalil Farms region, and there are no plans to do so. The Environmental Health Authority and the Directorate of Water are responsible for contamination control, the source added. Madina Mayoralty said it needs time to respond to Okaz/Saudi Gazette inquiries about the necessary steps to be taken. Fahd Al-Tamimi, Deputy Director of CIB in the region, refused to talk about the procedures it has taken and said its work is “confidential.” __
