ALKHARMA — Raniya, which is a governorate in the Makkah region, has a population of 60,000. About 100 villages and townships come under its administration. Its people have raised many demands including a specialty hospital, an airport and expansion of roads. They have also called for the linkage of government departments in Raniya with the Makkah governorate, setting up of a health department, office of the Real Estate Development Fund, development, improvement in municipal services and opening of bank branches with ATMs. Mohammed Al-Bathan highlighted the strategic location of Raniya. It's the meeting place of roads coming from Bisha, Wadi Al-Dawasser, Alkharma, Turba, Riyadh and Taif. "A large number of Hajis, performers of Umrah and other passengers pass by Raniya," he added. Mohammed Al-Subaiee spoke about the governorate's health requirements. "Where is the new hospital, which the government promised two years ago?" he asked and stressed the need to separate its health department from Taif, which is 400 km away from the city. He said the present hospital should transfer chronic cases to King Abdullah Hospital, which is closer to Raniya instead of transferring to Taif hospitals. Nasser Mohammed Al-Subaiee urged authorities to expand and asphalt the Raniya-Alkharma Road and Raniya-Bisha Road. "At present the damaged roads, having many potholes, cause traffic accidents almost every day," he added. Speaking about needs of Amlah and Uwaila townships, Turki Rashid Al-Subaiee stressed the importance of establishing a police station and opening of a court, which was closed years ago. Health centers should be provided with required number of doctors and nurses, he added. Ayed Mohammed Al-Subaiee called upon the Health Ministry to establish a 50-bed hospital in Ghaffa Township, which also requires a Civil Defense department office, an agricultural office, a traffic office and an intermediate school for girls. Residents of villages east of Raniya said they lacked basic facilities, including a bridge to link them with Raniya as heavy rains isolate them from rest of the world and from educational and health services. Sulaiman Nasser Al-Dakheel, chairman of the municipal council, supported the residents' call for improving services. "Basically, Raniya needs expansion and asphalting of roads, construction of paved roads to new residential districts, rainwater drainage systems, a new industrial city, construction of bridges and flood prevention projects," he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.
