MAKKAH, 18 November 2003 — Citizens of the Al-Khansaa residential district in the holy city are angry with the Ministry of Water, which continues to disregard all official complaints that the sewers are overflowing.
Ever since the heavy rains last week, the overflowing sewers have suffused the air with a hideous stench.
“The Water Ministry’s branch here has disregarded the complaints of citizens about the overflowing sewers,” Fawaz Nasir told Arab News. He added that six days after the rain, the overflow continues and the maintenance teams have still not arrived to deal with the problem.
“The sewer overflow has spread. Now it covers all the streets in the area and is filling the air with a horrible stench,” resident Muhammad Al-Umari said.
Fatma Ahmad said the sewer overflow created swamp-like puddles of water where all sorts of insects breed. “This is so unhealthy,” she said. “Some of my neighbors who have asthma or allergies are developing cold-like symptoms.”
Sari Zuhair is at a loss. “I can’t believe our complaints have been ignored. Why has nothing been done? How would they feel if this happened to their home districts?
“Don’t they know that this is how disease and pollution and respiratory problems develop? Or maybe I am asking the wrong question,” she added. “Maybe I should ask, Don’t they care?”
