Abdullah Ghurman Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Residents of Jeddah's Kilo 11 neighborhood claimed they have been complaining to the municipality about the lack of essential services in their area for the past 30 years. Although the Umm Al-Salam Municipality branch is in their neighborhood, they said this has not benefited them as the neighborhood still lacks paving and cleaning services. Ahmad Al-Zahrani, an elderly resident in the neighborhood, said road works have become a distinctive feature of the area. In addition, sewage water constantly seeps into the streets, causing a health hazard to the residents. He claimed that the streets have not been paved for the last 30 years, despite the constant water from rain and sewage that has affected the streets badly. Fellow resident Bandar Salem said one of the neighborhoods' main entrances had become a swamp due to sewage water and has remained this way for months, despite the large number of cars that pass through. Saeed Al-Qarni, another local, criticized the number of advertising signs that inundate electrical poles, claiming they contributed to the chaotic nature of the neighborhood. Fellow resident Mohammad Al-Qarni said he is worried that his children may catch an infection from the leaking sewage water. He said residents have notified Umm Al-Salam Municipality about the bad condition of the neighborhood, but have received empty promises only. He said the main street in the neighborhood experiences frequent potholes and damage that the municipality patches up, but the holes reappear shortly after. These holes are hazardous to their vehicles and children, they said. The residents called on Jeddah's Mayor Hani Aburas to find quick solutions to their problems. Jeddah Municipality spokesman Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Nahari said street maintenance is included in the municipality's budget for the current year, and funds will be allocated for next year's budget. He said the municipality is keen to ensure the comfort of citizens.
