Harazat District in eastern Jeddah have appealed to the Jeddah Mayoralty to stop the ‘illegal' demolition of their houses. They have also called on the mayoralty to form a committee to check the title deeds of their houses, so that they can be paid compensation. The owners claimed that the mayoralty only notified them 48 hours before its Encroachment Committee started razing their homes with bulldozers. By doing so, the committee had terrified their women and children. They slammed the mayoralty for not considering the consequences of its actions. They claimed that the mayoralty has no legal basis on which to demolish their residences because they have legal title deeds. Their houses were bought directly from the previous owners through real estate brokers operating in the district, they said. The Electricity Company had connected their homes to the electricity grid in the district, which was further evidence that their homes are legal. In addition, Umm Al-Salam Municipality had leveled and asphalted the roads in the district with the knowledge of the concerned authorities and the district chief. Other evidence is that the Geological Survey Authority had taken an aerial photograph of the districts. Many residents said they were now asking what they had done to deserve such “unfair treatment”. They said the demolitions had affected several families psychologically and caused “mental torture” to many breadwinners, especially pensioners who cannot afford to rent houses. Many pensioners only received SR1,700 a month, they added. Residents said these houses were built after many years of hard work and sacrifice. They were critical of the Encroachment Committee. “We don't oppose government decisions, but they should have at least given us a grace period to find [alternative accommodation] rather than leaving us and our families out in the open.” They said they should have been compensated with thousands of riyals. Many said they are still indebted to construction companies. A widow living in Al-Harazat District, said she and her children have nothing after the committee demolished her house. “I have no other source of income except the handful of riyals I get from social security.” Another victim, an elderly woman, said she has seven children supported by her eldest son who works for a government agency. “Living in our own house made it possible for us to live on the small salary of my son, which does not last a fortnight because of the large size of the family. Now we are living in the open air.” A 60-year-old man said members of the committee taunted him when they came to his house. He was watering a tree at the time. “When I asked them not to cut the tree they sarcastically asked me if I was watering it with Zamzam water.” Engineer Samir Basabrain, Head of the Encroachment Committee, said the committee only acts when it receives orders to do so from the mayoralty. The committee is an executive body that carries out the orders it receives, he added. He said the Geological Survey Authority has classified the Al-Harazat District as dangerous for residents because it lies in a valley. He said a dam will be constructed to protect east Jeddah from future floods. He said the owners of the demolished houses have the right to submit a complaint to the mayoralty if they did not receive notice. However, the mayoralty gives people ample time before carrying out an order, he said. He said the residents who have title deeds for houses in the undeveloped Al-Harazat district will be compensated by a compensation committee. Those who do not have title deeds will not be compensated, he added.
