JEDDAH, 13 November 2003 — The Prince Abdullah Foundation will build emergency housing projects for the poor in six villages on the Kingdom’s western and eastern coasts, according to Dr. Yousuf Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the organization.
The project includes Al-Shabaan and Al-Hassa villages in the Tabuk Region, Al-Nabah village in the Madinah Region, Al-Ghala village in the Makkah Region, Al-Raas Birraith village in the Jizan Region and Al-Juran village in the Eastern Province, he said.
The decision was made at a meeting of the foundation’s board of trustees in Riyadh on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard.
The meeting was attended by all board members including Prince Miteb, minister of municipal and rural affairs, Haj Minister Iyad Madani, who is also vice chairman of the foundation, and Labor and Social Affairs Minister Dr. Ali Al-Namlah.
“The meeting approved some projects for people on the Kingdom’s eastern and western coasts who are in urgent need of housing,” Al-Othaimeen said after the meeting. The meeting also approved a number of recommendations by the foundation’s executive committee.
Following the meeting, the crown prince toured an exhibition at the foundation’s headquarters, highlighting a number of its projects. He also inspected the model of an ideal housing unit and launched the foundation’s website.
“The foundation’s main goal is to ensure suitable housing for the most needy people in society and enable them to be productive and capable citizens participating in the development process,” Al-Othaimeen said.
Prince Abdullah spearheaded the Kingdom’s fight against poverty after visiting a slum in Riyadh in November last year. He called for a national strategy to wipe out poverty in the country.
The Prince Abdullah Foundation earlier announced plans to build housing projects in 12 villages in Hail, Asir, Jizan, Baha, Tabuk, Madinah, Al-Ahsa and Makkah regions.
In another move to provide housing facilities for needy Saudis, Riyadh Governor Prince Salman laid the foundation stone for a housing project in the Al-Badea Quarter in the Riyadh Region. He donated SR3 million to the project which is named after him.
