MADINAH: Thousands of evacuees have started returning to their homes in Al-Ais and nearby villages last week as authorities declared the area safe.
The residents were evacuated in April following mild tremors and signs of an extinct volcano erupting on a hill called Harrah Al-Shaqa. The evacuees were put up in hotels and apartments in Yanbu and Madinah under government subsidies.
Although the evacuees are grateful to the government for showing concern for their welfare, they complain that they have suffered losses worth millions of riyals due to the destruction of their farms and commercial establishments, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported on Monday.
“We do not deny the authorities' generous efforts to help us but the losses to farmers in Al-Ais is estimated at SR15 million on the basis of the sale of agricultural produce last year. The figure does not include the loss of cattle, wasted stock at commercial establishments and damage to houses,” said Ali Al-Johani, an elderly farmer.
Al-Johani criticized the eligibility conditions stipulated by the committee set up to distribute aid to returning families. The farmer blamed the committee for the death of an old man who died in a traffic accident near Yanbu after being forced to undertake the 200-km journey from Al-Ais to Yanbu because the committee insisted he produce an eligibility card issued by the Finance Ministry office in Yanbu.
He further expressed his displeasure at the way the ministry's office was dealing with Al-Ais residents who went there for their cards and accused the committee assessing damage to houses in the area of negligence.
“The committee has prepared a list of 100 damaged houses while their numbers are actually much higher,” he said, urging the authorities to set up another committee to estimate damage to buildings.
He further pointed out that the 50-bed general hospital in the area was insufficient to meet the health care needs of a population of more than 60,000. He said there should be at least 200 more beds and five more health centers.
Saraihan Al-Sinani, a local commercial farmer, said food stock worth SR100,000 was ruined in his shop because people were not allowed to return to the area for three months.
“All my date farms are ruined for want of irrigation. While I sold dates worth SR300,000 last year, I have not only lost all my investments this year but have to start everything over again,” Al-Sinani said.
Fahd Al-Johani, another farmer, said his farms that generated a profit of SR650,000 last year are in poor shape.
