A road in front of popular supermarket Marhaba is filled with dirty water, making it an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and all sorts of diseases.

While the Ministry of Health continues to battle the spread of the deadly coronavirus, other imminent health threats remain on the loose in the city.

In fact, several parts of Jeddah have become breeding grounds for diseases and the municipality does not seem to be doing anything about it.

A side street off Prince Majed Street in front of popular supermarket Marhaba, for instance, is filled with dirty water, attracting mosquitoes and all sorts of other diseases.

“This water has been here for days,” said Ahmed Shaheer, a resident. “That is why anyone can see that part of it has become green. The water, of course, is contaminated and yet no one has bothered to remove it. Children from surrounding buildings play in this area. In fact, many used to play cricket on this very ground.”

Several diseases can spread as a result of virus and bacteria-infested water, he said. “The municipality does nothing for poorer areas, while it acts swiftly when problems occur in more affluent neighborhoods.”

Abdul Majeed, a shopkeeper in the area, said: “There is a restaurant nearby this filthy pond, where people buy food. Imagine the flies, mosquitoes and bacteria from this water flying to these public places and eateries.”

He said the ministry is now busy fighting the coronavirus and relocating camel sheds, yet it fails to fix the problem of overflowing sewage and leaky water pipes. “Perfectly clean water often goes to waste.”

Children in the area have also complained that they can no longer play in their neighborhood and are not allowed to go any further by their parents.