Okaz/Saudi Gazette

TAIF — Quwaisim is a village 30 kilometers east of Taif. It is one of the oldest villages in the Kingdom because settlement there began nearly 100 years ago.

Residents of Quwaisim have called upon the local authorities to pay attention to the infrastructure needs of the village and carry out necessary development projects.

The villagers lack basic facilities and services including asphalted roads, a healthcare center, street lights and schools. Patients have to travel long distances to receive medical care.

There are only two containers to collect garbage in a village, which has a population of more than 3,000 people.

Khalid Marzouk Al-Hulaifi spoke about the village’s damaged roads. “We don’t have asphalted roads and street lights,” he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

People are forced to close windows of their homes to protect children from rising dust when vehicles pass because they cause asthma and other respiratory diseases. “Many villagers have been affected by pulmonary problems after breathing in the dust,” Al-Hulaifi said.

“Quwaisim is a village which is 100 years old. We hope the municipality would implement various development projects required by its people,” he added.

Naif Saud Al-Hulaifi said children of Quwaisim are denied recreation facilities as families have to take them to parks in Taif and other far-away cities.

“Our village has all the features required for parks,” he pointed out.

Aida Saleh Al-Hulaifi spoke about pollution caused by accumulation of garbage along the streets. “This is one of the reasons for the spread of infectious diseases in the village.”

He also called for the establishment of a primary health center in Quwaisim.

“At present we travel long distances to reach hospitals in Taif and other cities,” he added.

The village, according to him, requires a polyclinic to provide maternity and pediatric services including vaccinations to children.

Salim Hussain Al-Hulaifi described Quwaisim as a forgotten village. “We lack basic facilities and services such as asphalted roads. Our village is just two kilometers away from the southern road that links Taif with Baha,” he said and urged the municipality to asphalt a 2-km mud road that takes the villagers to the highway.

Nawaf Al-Hulaifi drew the attention of the authorities toward a lack of telecommunication and Internet facilities, which are essential for making use of the government’s e-services.