Jazan Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Nasser opened the first phase of the project comprising 2,000 houses by cutting a ribbon during a ceremony at Hasma in Ahad Al-Masaraha last Wednesday. The project reflects King Abdullah’s vision and his care for citizens.
According to government officials and academics in Jazan, the new housing project will have its social, religious and security dimensions and will bring about qualitative improvement in the lives of its beneficiaries.
Muhammad bin Mansour Al-Mudkhali, director general of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ office in Jazan, commended the project, saying it comes within the government’s endeavors to boost the region’s development on par with other regions.
“The marvelous projects implemented by the government in Jazan in recent years at the initiative of King Abdullah shows his care for citizens and desire for meeting their requirements,” he said.
Ali bin Abdul Aziz Al-Nashwan, religious adviser to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and a member of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation, admired the Jazan project, saying it was excellently planned. The five housing complexes are provided with required facilities including mosques, schools and health centers in addition to water and electricity.
Maj. Gen. Hussein bin Muhammad Maalawi, commander of armed forces in Jazan, commended King Abdullah for taking the initiative to implement the vital project, saying it would bring together scattered families and help them enjoy security and stability. He said the facilities at the housing complexes are distinguished by their high standards.
“Saudi Arabia is now passing through its golden era under the wise leadership of King Abdullah,” he added.
Abdul Khalik Obaid Al-Qarni, an engineer, described the King Abdullah housing project in Jazan as a good model in terms of design and method. The new houses have been built using prefabricated materials, which helped in completing the project work quickly and efficiently, he said. “The houses are constructed in such a way that they can withstand tremors,” he added.
Abdul Rahman Al-Nami, head of the media committee for the project, described the project as a gift from King Abdullah to the people of Jazan. “King Abdullah wanted to provide the displaced people in the southern border with decent housing facilities,” he added.
Al-Nami said the Jazan project is one of the largest housing schemes in the Kingdom that also provided job opportunities for 250 women in the region to make the furniture required for the homes after they were given proper training.
King Abdullah ordered the construction of 6,000 homes in Jazan at a cost of SR6 billion to accommodate the region’s displaced people. More than 5,000 families had been evacuated from the border with Yemen amid fighting between Yemeni intruders and Saudi armed forces in November 2009.
The homes are constructed in five locations. With 2,249 houses, the largest among the five residential complexes is at Hasma. The complex has 11 mosques, two health centers and 15 schools, telephone and water connections and health centers, gardens and service roads. The Rawan complex has 1,063 houses, six mosques, four schools and other utilities.
In Kharish there are 1,246 houses, six mosques, six schools and a health center while in Ramada there are 995 houses, five mosques, six schools and a health center. The Suha project comprises 447 houses, three mosques, four schools and a health center. The houses, which cover an area of 500 to 1,000 sq. meters, are designed to meet the requirements of displaced families.
