AJMAN // Families living close to an industrial area in Ajman say they are worried that smells from a nearby incinerator and sewage treatment works could put their health at risk.
Residents of Al Jurf, a predominately Emirati neighbourhood, said smells from burning waste, as well as sewage, were so bad they could not open windows in their homes. They want the municipality to take action.
“No one can handle this bad smell,” said Emirati A R, 39.
“We can’t open the windows because the odour enters the house and sticks in the furniture.”
Abu Ali, a 44-year-old employee at the Ministry of Health, said the smell was worst during summer and all of the area’s 2,000 or so residents have been affected.
M M, 39, an Emirati police officer who is due to move to the area after his wedding next month, said he was keen to see the issue resolved quickly.
“Since my elder brother lived in the area 10 years ago, he has told of a strong foul odour coming from the waste incinerator. There is another foul odour coming from an area where sewage-removal vehicles dump the waste.
“I remember that one day my friend told me that his children had been affected by the strong odour and have suffered from asthma and he doesn’t now allow them to play outside.”
Christophe Ledur, general manager at Ajman Sewerage, which is based a few kilometres from Al Jurf, said its waste water treatment process had been enhanced and odour control units installed.
“For the past two or three years, the number of complaints has become marginal and even zero for many months now,” Mr Ledur said, adding that a team from the plant would investigate the matter.
Humaid Al Mualla, director of the Department of Public Health and Environment at Ajman Municipality, said the incinerator handled medical waste and was due to undergo maintenance.
“We have already asked for a new incinerator, and we are expecting to receive it during the next two months and to operate it before the end of the first half of this year,” said Mr Al Mualla.
He said the Ministry of Environment and Water planned to provide alternatives for waste disposal soon.
roueiti@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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