Saudi- Deserted by sons women suffer in silence

(MENAFN- Arab News) An eerie sense of desolation remoteness and negligence envelops visitors at the Rubat Al-Shakirin complex where a number of old ladies are accommodated.

They are the remnants of an old generation that yearns for care and affection denied to them by their closest relatives.

The run-down premises betray a deliberate negligence and lack of concern for the residents there is no maintenance no security guard and no water.

'Despite the fact that my three sons and three daughters are living in the city I have been spending my days here for over 15 years after I was in the streets for some time. None of my sons or daughters are willing to take care of me especially after I fell sick' Khadeejah Aydros a resident of the shelter told Arab News.

The woman complained that nobody came to inquire after she checked into the residence. 'My woes started when my son yielded to his wife's demands to throw me out of their house. One night they asked me to get down from the car at the Rehaili Street and then they sped off. None of the other children came looking for me ever. My sons forget how I cared for them when they were kids and even after that. In fact that incident crushed my heart' she said with tears welled up in her eyes and her tone faltered with emotions.

She said she used to look at the gate every Ramadan and Eid hoping that some of her sons or daughters would come looking for her. But nothing happened in the past 15 years except fruitless waiting. Other inmates take care of her as she suffers from hernia and rheumatic pains which make it extremely hard for her to move about. The pension she gets does not leave anything for the treatment of her illness.

When asked about the dirt insects and rodents scurrying about she said her joint pains made it possible for her to move and clean the room to keep the mice and cockroaches away.

Sabiha Ibrahim another resident in her late seventies said she had been staying in the facility for over 20 years after the death of her husband. One of her two sons is married and the other one is paralyzed and cannot work. Her swollen and paining joints don't let her go up or down and she is so poor she cannot afford medicines.

Wife of the former imam at the Rubat mosque Umm Aishah 55 said her husband is bedridden and cannot lead prayers any more. One of her three sons used to help them but he could not spare much from his monthly salary of SR1500. So she and her husband depend on charity.

Umm Aishah said that after the death of the owner of the mosque nobody took care of the building and the water supply was cut two years ago for not paying the bill. Now they depend on tank water for their cooking and other needs.

There is no guard or cleaner in the building with 24 rooms in which boarders are mostly sick and infirm. She said she used to clean the premises whenever her failing health allowed.

All the residents of the Rubat complex are poor and sick but they live like a single family sharing their joys and sorrows.