JEDDAH: Swamps and stagnant pools of water that formed in Jeddah's districts after heavy rain Wednesday and Thursday left residents fearful about the spread of insects that carry dengue fever and skeptical about official statements addressing the problem. The districts of Al-Rabwah, Al-Sha'bi, Al-Azizia, Al-Bawadi, Al-Waziriah, Al-Samer, Al-Tawfiq and Al-Rehab are full of stagnant pools and citizens questioned the statements by Jeddah Mayoralty officials who said tanker trucks have been deployed to pump out water that has collected throughout the city. The Information Center of Jeddah Mayoralty has confirmed that as soon as the rain ended, locations of pools of water on main streets were pinpointed and tanker trucks were sent there. Officials said workers would deal with water that collected on subsidiary streets after they cleared out the major thoroughfares. The Storm and Flood Water Drainage Unit began its work by opening the networks and facilitating the entry of rainwater into them, they added. The teams added 30 tanker trucks from the Parks, Afforestation and Municipal Administration; 60 from residents and 25 belonging to cleaning companies, in addition to using sweeping vehicles and pumps, officials said. About 20 pumps and other machines were provided at the beginning of the effort and machines were distributed in north and central Jeddah, officials said. When the downpour began, the Water Administration started operating the openings for the storm-water drainage network in the areas covered by sanitary drainage and 70 pumps were distributed at various locations in Jeddah, officials said. Some citizens said the efforts were not sufficient to create peace of mind. Khuwailid Al-Safari, a resident of Al-Rabwah District, lamented, “I place my hand on my heart with fear whenever my children go out into the street because of the swamps surrounding my house.”
