Health fears over city rubbish piles
Residents say waste is attracting animals and insects
FUJAIRAH // Foul odours, stray animals and insects are plaguing residents in Fujairah city who live near piles of rubbish they say had been left to rot. Municipality workers empty only the rubbish bins and dumpsters in the old area of Al Gurfa, residents said, and do not clear the piles of rubbish lying around.
“There are a number of spots that are never cleared of rubbish,” said Hussan Khan, a 24- year- old Pakistani worker who lives in Al Gurfa.
“The situation is getting worse, and we can smell it from our house near by. “Some workers dump their rubbish there and nobody talks to them. They should be fined for doing that because they affect us all.”
The majority of residents in the area are now workers from India and Pakistan after Emiratis moved to elsewhere.
“We live six people in a room and we pay about Dh1,500 per month, so we can’t leave the area because we won’t find cheaper rents anywhere else,” Mr Khan said. Another worker said some houses had a problem with sewage pipes and dirty water ran in the streets and between houses.
“It’s a very serious issue,” said MK, a 40-year-old Pakistan who works as a delivery driver. “The smell is very bad but most of us don’t complain to the municipality for fear of losing our jobs.” Furniture has also been dumped in the area, and stray animals are attracted to it. “Stray dogs keep eating from the rubbish and find shelter in the dumped furniture,” M K said. “The rubbish also attracts insects and flies, which may cause diseases.”
The old area of Al Gurfa is near Al Marash roundabout, 1.5 kilometres from Fujairah Corniche. Assela Al Mualla, head of Fujairah Public Services and Environment department, denied claims nothing had been done in the area. “The municipality organised three clean-up campaigns last year that covered the whole area,” she said.
“Sewage withdrawal and transfer services are provided by the municipality and our pest control division arranges periodic spraying campaigns to minimise the effects of any contamination.”
Ms Al Mulla said the team that dealt with stray animals was ready to take complaints. She said people should raise complaints to the municipality 24/7 by calling 80036.