MADINAH, 27 July 2005 — Abandoned and partly demolished houses have become a major concern of Madinah residents. The municipality has demanded that the owners either fix their houses or demolish them. The abandoned houses pose real danger to residents who fear they might be used by overstayers for illegal activities or to hide stolen items.

Residents say these houses could fall and pose danger to passers-by.

Al-Harra Al-Gharbiya is a neighborhood with large numbers of abandoned and partly destroyed houses. Some of these houses have been abandoned for more than 30 years. They have become the source of rats, snakes and dangerous scorpions.

“The problem with these abandoned houses is that it is a safe place for overstayers and mentally ill people,” said Talal Ahmad, a local resident. He described a derelict house near him that housed a mentally ill person where he slept and who occasionally threw rocks at people.

“Where are the owners of these houses?” Ahmad asked. “They should either fix them or have them fenced so they would not have legal problems.”

Abdullah Abdul Rahman of Al-Awali neighborhood said one house caused the death of a young man three weeks ago. He was waiting in the shade next to an abandoned house when the roof fell on him, killing him instantly. “If you look at the condition of these houses you would understand that it could collapse any minute,” he pointed out.

Abdullah was concerned because children have to pass by the derelict buildings on their way to school. “The authorities should force the owners of these houses to fix them or demolish them.”

Muhammad Al-Hafiz of Al-Harra neighborhood bought a house in Al-Harra Al-Gharbiya which is 10 minutes walking distance from the Prophet’s Mosque. Next to his house are three partially destroyed abandoned homes. The houses are the source of insects, rats and scorpions. “These insects invaded my home,” he told Arab News. “Locals throw their garbage inside these abandoned houses instead of the garbage containers down the road because they do not want to walk,” he said.