MAKKAH: Islam's holiest shrine lies in a valley surrounded by mountains. Most of the residential districts in Makkah, especially the older ones, are situated on peaks.
Despite the difficulty of living in such terrain, the Makkawis, particularly older generation, insists on residing there because these places carry the memories of their fathers and grandfathers. Others prefer to stay there because the cheap rent suits their low income.
Illegal foreigners on the run from passport police also use the mountainous abodes as hideouts. The security forces and Civil Defense personnel have great difficulty in reaching them.
Arab News visited some of these districts and met some residents.
Muhammad Barnawi, who lives on Dahlat Al-Walayah Mountain in Al-Masfalah district, said he was forced to live there for economic reasons. "My low income has obliged me to live here," he said.
He said vehicles never reach the top of the mountains so they drop the passengers at a spot nearest to the houses and they walk the rest of the distance. He recalled that when some houses caught fire sometime back, Civil Defense rescuers and firefighters could not reach the area so they increased the water hoses' range to their farthest limit.
Barnawi also said when rain falls, landslides happen, but the residents are unaware of such perils.
Hatim Ahmad, who was born on Jabal (mountain) Hindi, said his family owned a house on the top near Al-Shamiyah district but left about 20 years ago to live in a new area in Makkah. He said they later discovered that their old home had been taken over by illegal foreigners who used it for criminal activities.
He explained that they put on new locks that were broken by the intruders, who also stole the doors, the windows and the electricity meters.
"At this point we decided to put the house for sale out of fear that it might be a place for criminal practices," Ahmad said.
Ibrahim Saeed, who lives in Jabal Abu Shaddadain in Al-Kadwah district, said he continued to live there because of the cheap rent. "It dos not cost much to live in these areas compared to other areas of the holy city," he said. Highlighting the risks of living on mountains, Saeed said the narrow roads make it impossible for two cars to pass each other.
"When they meet, one of them has to go backward and may hit other parked cars in the process," he said, recalling an incident when a water tanker hit many cars and had to drive into a house in order to stop. "Luckily, the house was empty," Saeed added.
Muhammad Bina, said although he grew up in Jabal Um Al-Nabaa in Al-Nikasa district, his father would not leave despite objections from family.
"My father is a well-off person but he still smells the odor of his ancestors in this house. He is not willing to leave it for this reason," he added. Spokesman for Makkah police Maj. Abdul Mohsen Al-Miman said despite the mountainous nature of the holy city, police would overcome natural barriers to carry out its work.
Al-Miman said police stations in mountainous areas, the patrol police and mayors know the names and exact locations of all the mountains, helping field units to reach any place, though with great difficulty.
Spokesman of the Civil Defense Lt. Col. Ali Al-Muntashiri said they have to depend on small cars instead of firefighting trucks to reach mountainous areas in emergency situations such as fires and natural calamities.
"We also have long water hoses that can extend to between 200 and 300 meters," he said.
By Badea Abu Al-Naja
© Arab News 2009
