KUWAIT CITY, July 1: More than thirty families in Al-Mutlaa city have decided to leave due to severe deficiencies in essential services, particularly the chronic water shortage despite scorching summer conditions. The concerned citizens have expressed their dismay over the deteriorating living conditions in Al-Mutlaa, causing potential new residents to reconsider moving there until infrastructure and basic services are improved, especially the continuous water supply through functional pipelines and pumps operating round the clock. Residents lament that “Al-Mutlaa is suffering from thirst,” as water supplied by tankers has become scarce. They have appealed directly to Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah to look into their plight and alleviate their suffering.

One of the residents, reflecting on his year-long residency in Al-Mutlaa, described the city’s decline due to water scarcity and other challenges, making it increasingly unappealing for residents. He emphasized how easy access to water had reversed dramatically after pump shutdowns, forcing dependence on a single overburdened pump shared with nearby areas, particularly Jahra. This has led to exorbitant tanker costs and severe disruptions in daily life, including difficulty in performing essential tasks like ablutions for prayer. He and others have called on officials from the Ministry of Electricity and Water to urgently address the situation by either completing the water network or installing additional pumps. They stressed that the current conditions in Al-Mutlaa are untenable, pushing many families to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere due to the worsening quality of life and inadequate public services.

In addition to water issues, residents like Mubarak Al-Anqoudi cited concerns about security due to inadequate lighting and safety measures, describing the city as increasingly resembling a ghost town. He highlighted the presence of illegal workers posing risks to residents, alongside deteriorating infrastructure and public cleanliness. Abdulaziz Al-Hassan echoed these sentiments, expressing disappointment over broken promises of improved infrastructure and basic services, which have failed to materialize despite assurances. He emphasized the urgent need for governmental intervention to address the mounting challenges facing Al-Mutlaa, including suspending rent allowances and credit bank installments to alleviate financial burdens on residents unable to complete their homes due to lacking services. Overall, the residents of Al-Mutlaa are pleading for immediate government attention to prevent further abandonment of the city and restore essential services essential for a decent quality of life.

By Abdulnasser Al-Aslami
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff