While billions are being spent to realize the dreams of Mohamed bin Salman to establish NEOM city, buying yachts and paintings worth millions of dollars; the people of Al-Abwa area in Rabigh governorate lived during the month of Ramadan and the days of Eid serious suffering due to the lack of drinking water and the frequent breakdown of water pumps.
The people of Al-Abwa do not know when would the government put an end to this renewed crisis as they live on drinking water that comes to them in tanks coming from the Ashyab Masturah area, which is about 33 km away from the Al-Abwa area.
Al-Abwa’s residents confirmed that the Water Department in Makkah moved the drinking water contractor’s office from their area to the Masturah area for known reasons after it had been in their area for ten years.
As people demonstrated, the Drinking Water Department promised them that the service would be available to them very soon and that the water tanker will be received no longer than 24 hours after the time of the request. It also added that in cases exceeding 24 hours, the requester has the right to file a complaint to whom it may concern to penalize the service provider for the delay.
The people of the area expressed their dissatisfaction and suffering as the water tank never comes before 72 hours, despite the short distance, and that the drinking water management had completely abandoned them and left them to deal with the employees in the area. They spent the month of Ramadan suffering due to the severe shortage of drinking water in their area, and with the beginning of the summer month and the heat.
They added that all the appeals did not work, and none of the officials in the management of drinking water took any action.
The people also mentioned that the contact numbers for the complaint line are very difficult to reach, due to the lack of the network at most times of the day, and that it is only one line.
They renewed their appeal to the officials in the state in general, and their region in particular, for rapid intervention to solve this crisis in light of severe summer heat.
