Heavy rainfall in recent days has exposed serious infrastructure shortcomings in several residential neighborhoods of Martil, in the M’diq-Fnideq prefecture, with residents of the Oum Kalthoum housing development once again bearing the brunt of the damage.
Local sources told Hespress AR that residents are grappling not only with poor basic services but also with severe deterioration of the road network and the absence of essential public facilities, including a health center and other amenities that could ease what they described as “Sisyphean” daily hardships that resurface every rainy season.
The same sources said the neighborhood lacks even the most basic conditions for decent living. Public transport within the area is virtually nonexistent, largely due to the degraded roads and widespread potholes, which have led many taxi drivers to avoid the neighborhood altogether to protect their vehicles.
Speaking to Hespress AR, resident Zoubir El Menyawi said Oum Kalthoum had become “the twin of Gaza when it comes to infrastructure,” adding that pedestrians and drivers alike struggle to navigate the natural bumps and deep holes scattered throughout the area. He said stagnant pools of rainwater often obscure the ground, while thick mud clings to residents’ feet and vehicle tires.
El Menyawi also pointed to frequent power outages by utility company Amendis, as well as the lack of functioning public lighting in several streets. In some areas, he said, lighting poles exist but remain unlit, plunging the neighborhood into near-total darkness. This, he warned, heightens security risks, increases the threat of assaults and makes nighttime movement especially dangerous given the numerous obstacles on the roads.
Residents’ suffering intensifies during the winter months, as unpaved alleys and streets turn into stagnant pools emitting foul odors. These conditions pose serious health and environmental risks, particularly for children and the elderly, further compounding daily living challenges.
Although Oum Kalthoum lies just behind rows of neatly painted, uniform apartment buildings along a newly developed main road, the scene changes dramatically once inside the neighborhood. According to observations by Hespress during a site visit, the area resembles a disaster-stricken district or a forgotten village, in stark contrast to its outward-facing facade.
El Menyawi urged the president of the Martil municipal council and all relevant authorities to urgently address the residents’ concerns and tackle territorial disparities within the municipality. He called for the launch of development projects in underserved neighborhoods to ensure their right to equitable development, improve living conditions and restore dignity to residents’ daily lives.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.