MAKKAH — Abandoned villa projects in a new housing district in the holy city of Makkah have become a hotbed of crime, residents say. They allege that empty buildings provide a safe haven for illegal residents and fugitives. The residents say the area also suffers from a lack of sewage and drainage systems. Residents are calling for a radical solution to their problems. About 70 percent of the villas in the housing project are abandoned and residents want them to be secured either by completing work or closing all access to them. The residents also demand that the municipality complete the utility projects, including gardens and schools, and reopen closed shops. Tariq Ayad Al-Bishri confirmed that the residents of the new housing district suffer greatly because of the empty villas next to their homes. "Anyone can come and occupy these villas anytime. Many violators of the residency system have turned the villas into their sleeping quarters," Al-Bishri said. Saleh Al-Majnouni, another resident, said the neighborhood suffers from a lack of proper drainage and sanitation systems. The residents called on the municipality and the Education Department in Makkah to meet their needs for schools and public parks. Usama Zeitouni, media director at the municipality, said the project was not abandoned and work was still under way. "The paving of roads continues and the municipal observers are monitoring the shortcomings," he said.
