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Unable to Pay Rent, Makkah Family Lives in Tent
"A Saudi veteran of the first Gulf War, unable to pay rent, is living destitute with his wife and nine children in a tent in a derelict part of the Aziziya district of Makkah. "Taxi driver Abdullah, 50, says he prefers to live with his children in a tent than ask for help and depend on charity. The father of five girls and four boys — who are all of school age with the oldest being 15 and the youngest two — participated in the war to liberate Kuwait. [...] "Speaking about the circumstances that led him to live in the tent, Abdullah said he receives social security benefits totaling SR2,800 a month, half of which goes toward paying for his taxicab. His monthly rent used to be SR1,200. Left with only SR200 and profit from his taxi being very low, Abdullah said he found it difficult to meet expenses, especially as his family grew large. "Finally, he was forced leave his rented accommodation and move to a tent. "Abdullah said his family relies on street lamps for light at night and that he uses the trunk of his car to store clothes. The family rents a house for a day every two weeks to get some respite and wash their clothes. They then return to the tent. [...]" Source: Arab News (Saudi Arabia), May 11, 2008
Posted at: 2008-05-15
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