Beit Al-Faqih: History covered with trash [Archives:2007/1116/Culture]

Hamed Thabet
Although it is one of Yemen's historical cities, Beit Al-Faqih has become a trash dump, causing its 24,208 residents to face numerous diseases as a result. Its students even study in old buildings surrounded with trash. Hamed Thabet visited the city and talked with locals.



For those who study the history of Yemen's ancient cities, Beit Al-Faqih, located in the western governorate of Hodeidah, would seem to be a central attraction, a historical place to visit and above all, one of Yemen's landmarks. Having assured its place in Yemeni history during the Islamic period, Beit Al-Faqih no longer holds such prominence today.

Had the Ministry of Tourism attended to it, the city could have become one of Yemen's most attractive tourist sites for both locals and foreigners.

Beit Al-Faqih is a city with many asphalt roads, but unfortunately, they are covered in trash. Tour guide Abdulwareth laments, “Whenever I bring tourists here, I must explain to them about the city because it's my job. They ask only two questions: 'Why did you bring us here?!' and 'Why didn't you tell us before about all this trash?'”

Twenty years ago, ancient cities like Beit Al-Faqih were sites for trash. Because there were only a few of them, residents didn't throw their garbage in the dumps, instead believing it the rain's responsibility to wash it away. However, since then, the trash has increased due to lack of rainfall.

According to Farouq Al-Khazzan, an area consultant who advises Beit Al-Faqih residents, “Whenever anyone wants to build a house or plant a tree, he faces meters of trash buried in the ground because people long ago used to throw their trash everywhere, on top of which dirt and dust continually accumulated.”



Materials shortage

Only four small garbage collectors employing 20 workers operate in Beit Al-Faqih, which is insufficient. Also, trash around the garbage container is normal because there are only a few garbage dumps in Beit Al-Faqih.

Local sheikh Mohammed Al-A'izzi points out, “We need more materials to accomplish this operation, but residents also don't care about keeping their city clean. We've had numerous awareness campaigns to make them understand not to throw trash in front of their houses, but rather to put it in the garbage container, but only a few were attracted to this idea and then they stopped.”

Instead, residents simply blame the government and their local council for not doing anything about the problem. In fact, Al-A'izzi affirms that it's the government's and the local council's responsibility to provide the means and necessary awareness education, but residents also must show some interest on their side to keep their city and environment clean.

While there were previous cleanup efforts, they stopped before they even started due to no cooperation or interest by residents.

The sheikh further notes that the local council and other authorities previously planned to provide more garbage collectors and workers, but until now, nothing has materialized, the main reason being “lack of funds.”

The city's residents constantly complain of diseases such as asthma and malaria, as well as increased insects and malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquitoes everywhere, which they wish to see eradicated.

According to Yahya Abu Al-Ghaith, secretary-general of Islah, Yemen's largest opposition party, and secretary-general of Beit Al-Faqih's Social Cooperative Association, “Humans aren't human unless they understand the meaning and importance of cleanliness. Cleanliness is next to godliness, so people must understand this.”

He adds, “Instead of complaining about insects and diseases, they should realize that they brought these problems upon their city themselves due to their carelessness and heedlessness in throwing their trash everywhere.”



Problems

Lack of public awareness is the main reason for such problems, as Al-Ghaith explains, “We tried, doing our best to enlighten residents, even using mosque speakers and giving many admonitions and advice at qat gatherings, in addition to simple awareness programs.” However, he admits, “While all of these activities produced good results, they were only temporary and then citizens returned to their previous bad habits.”

Standing in front of one of the city's schools, Al-A'izzi pointed to it and asked in a very loud voice, “Do you know what this building is for?!” to which he immediately responded, “This is where our children are educated! Have you ever seen a school surrounded by trash? Throughout the world, schools and their environment are the cleanest, but in Beit Al-Faqih, they are the dirtiest.”

He continued, “How can a historical place like Beit Al-Faqih exist among all this trash? Our city, which claims its fame from the post-Islamic period, is considered one of Yemen's most historic locations. Moreover, its historic fortress and mosques from the Ottoman and Sufi periods are in great need of repair. Because our valuable heritage is receiving no attention from anyone, it has become a garbage dump instead of being a place for tourism.”

Nevertheless, Al-A'izzi points out, government offices also have the same trash problem.



Proposed solutions

Beit Al-Faqih residents pay YR 300 tax on their electric bills, which is specifically for cleaning. However, Al-Ghaith muses, “I want to know where this YR 300, as well as the other 5 percent in taxes we pay in other fields, goes? If officials collected these sums and used them in the right way, which is to clean the city, the problem essentially would be solved.”

He adds, “The local council always promises city residents that they will create a perfect plan to clean up the city; however, every time, they tell us, 'Due to budget shortages, these plans will be suspended.'”

Paving the city and its roads would help keep it clean, as Abdulwareth explains, “Many times, we've asked the local council to pave lanes and roads, but regrettably, no one listens to us, as if we're from another planet.”

Al-Ghaith proposes, “I wish heavy penalties would be imposed upon whoever throws trash out carelessly and doesn't show respect for the city. I think punishing the careless and disrespectful would make residents reconsider before doing such a thing. We've tried to educate them and tell them the disadvantages that can be brought about, but no one listens to us. They simply are waiting for others and the authorities to do something for them.

“If the local council and officials keep saying they don't have money or they will have it next year, and if they continue avoiding these challenges and shirking their responsibility toward this problem, it would be better if they empowered us to do it our way. Maybe if we, as residents of Beit Al-Faqih, had the power, we would do it better.

However, Al-Ghaith regrets, “I doubt this because the sad fact we are living with is that although we want things to change for the better, in the end, Beit Al-Faqih will remain as it is because talking is easier than action.

“Finally, Beit Al-Faqih residents dream of having a clean place to live. They should've shown some interest a long time ago, but now when the problem has increased, residents can't bear the responsibility alone. The government and the local council must unite and cooperate to accomplish this,” Al-A'izzi concludes.
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