JEDDAH — There are 12 neighborhoods east of Jeddah suffering from a lack of basic services such as parks, hospitals, proper roads and lighting, reported Al-Madina. A large number of illegal expatriates live comfortably in these areas, according to residents who want local authorities to form a committee to identify the needs of these neighborhoods and fulfill them. In response, the municipality said in a statement that some of the demanded services in neighborhoods east of Jeddah already exist. There are also ongoing development projects and more service projects on the way that will meet the needs of residents, it added. Ahmad Al-Nuaimi, resident in Quwaizah District, said: “Why do we have to demand and follow up at the municipality to fix the damage when these things should be done automatically? There is stagnant water everywhere that comes from underground and as a result sickness is spreading. “We do not see cleaning workers that often on the streets. “If they come then they are in front of restaurants begging for food or in front of mosques begging for money. “We are suffering from bad cleanliness, ill-maintained roads and sidewalks, lack of supervision and much more. “With time, we have begun to feel that we are less privileged compared to other neighborhoods in the city.” Abdulrahman Al-Zahrani, resident of Al-Hamadaniya District, said in his area there is plenty of construction debris that contractors have dumped in vacant plots of land, attracting rats, scorpions and snakes. Cleaning workers, he said, are busy collecting recycling material and leaving the garbage behind. He said: "There are many roads that are not complete yet and some of them with major potholes. “Some of the roads are without lights at night. “There are lampposts but they are not working. “This neighborhood is attracting more people because it is considered new but the services from the municipality are minimal. “We want a committee to investigate the shortcomings of the municipality and punish those who are being neglectful. “We have many thieves and crimes are being committed and homes are being burgled.” Hasan Al-Malki, from Al-Manar District in the east, said the “most difficult journey” is to the mosque because of all the sewage water seeping from underground into the streets. He said: “At times when dengue fever is spreading, we see no effort by the municipality to fight mosquitoes. “There is not a single street in the neighborhood without a pothole. “There is the problem of underground water that is irking us and yet nothing is done; all what we hear are promises to solve something that will never be solved. “Why are they neglecting the neighborhood? “We gave up and we cannot hope for anything positive from them. “In fact, we are thinking of shifting to another neighborhood.”
