The Khfji Governorate Municipality has intensified its field efforts to an unprecedented degree to address the effects of the rainfall that the governorate experienced last week. This is part of a comprehensive plan aimed at restoring the urban landscape and removing all visual pollution left by the weather fluctuations. This intensive campaign resulted in the removal of approximately 8,670 cubic meters of various types of waste, demonstrating the rapid response and readiness of the field teams to handle environmental emergencies.
Campaign details and recorded figures
The Mayor of Al-Khafji Governorate, Engineer Mohammed Al-Yami, explained that field teams worked around the clock to implement the comprehensive cleaning plan. The work included mechanical and manual sweeping, which resulted in the removal of 2,300 cubic meters of sand and debris washed onto the roads by rainwater. Regarding the waterfront, a major recreational area for residents, more than 1,100 fifty-gallon garbage bags were used to clean the beach of debris and waste washed ashore by the waves or left behind by flash floods. This contributes to protecting the marine environment and ensuring the safety of beachgoers.
Al-Yami added that the campaign included the removal of 2,150 cubic meters of waste of unknown origin, in addition to the removal of 4,220 cubic meters of solid waste from various parts of the governorate, and the removal of 330 tons of household waste, which reflects the extent of the effort made to control the environmental situation after the rainy weather.
National context: Improving the urban landscape and quality of life
These efforts in Al-Khafji Governorate are fully consistent with the comprehensive national strategy adopted by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which aims to improve the urban landscape as one of the pillars of the "Quality of Life" program within the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Addressing visual pollution and removing construction waste and debris of unknown origin is a top priority for municipalities, to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment for residents.
These campaigns are of particular importance in coastal cities such as Khafji, where the cleanliness of beaches and public facilities directly affects the region’s tourist and economic appeal, in addition to the environmental dimension of protecting wildlife from plastic and solid pollutants.
Mechanisms used and community participation
To ensure swift completion, Engineer Al-Yami noted that 11 heavy vehicles were deployed to survey vacant lots in several neighborhoods, streets, and squares, with extensive participation from supervisors and field teams. The operational plan focused on removing sand from side streets and alleyways, and providing new waste containers to replace damaged ones in some neighborhoods.
In closing, the mayor stressed that the ultimate goal of these campaigns is to raise environmental awareness and eliminate the phenomenon of random dumping, calling on all citizens and residents to cooperate with the municipality by committing to dumping waste in designated places, and to immediately report any observations or manifestations of visual pollution through the unified reporting center 940, stressing that cleanliness is a shared responsibility between government agencies and members of society.
