Tuesday, July 3, 2007

More Beggars Flood Streets

Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Saudi Gazette

THE number of beggars in the Kingdom has ballooned in the last two years, according to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Social Affairs published in Al-Madina Arabic language newspaper Sunday.

Some 81 percent of the beggars are expatriates. Their number grew to 24,771 from 15,015 in two years. Saudi beggars in different regions also rose 40 percent from 3,630 to 5,317 in two years.

Many of the beggars do not have chronic diseases or permanent disabilities.


Four government departments are preparing a national plan that includes formation of local committees in Taif, Makkah and Jeddah to arrest beggars and hand them over to authorities.
It is in line with the order of the Council of Ministers to rid Saudi Arabia of beggary.

Dr. Sa'eed Al-Ghamdi, Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah, has submitted a plan in this regard to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Province.

Statistics last year found that begging among children was on the rise in Makkah, especially around the Grand Mosque.

Some of the arrested child beggars said their fathers dumped them on the street, where they spent more than 12 hours at traffic lights. Their fathers would collect the proceeds when they returned home.

A. Kh., a 14-year-old beggar, said, "I have been begging for many years. My father dumps me at the traffic lights and in the Central Area surrounding the Grand Mosque. When I spot the Immigration (Passports) Department's men or the Vagrancy Combat Office teams, I mix with the worshipers. During a day I collect at least SR200. When I return home, I find my father waiting for me to take the proceeds. I came to know many other beggars old and young. Each one has his trick to win sympathy. Some of them pretend to be handicapped while others make sure to win the sympathy of the worshipers and get money. We know the rich from their appearance. We know where they are staying and in what hotels. We stand near their luxurious cars. One woman gave me more than SR1,000. When she saw my health condition, she sympathized with me."

Last year, 4,228 male and female beggars were apprehended.

Non-Saudi beggar is handed over to the Committee for Investigating Expatriate Beggars that is an affiliate of Makkah Police so that the necessary measures are taken. In brief, they are deported to their respective countries.

However, if the beggar is a Saudi national, he is handed over to the Vagrancy Combat Office so that sociologists study his case to know the reasons for begging. If the study shows that he is in need, he is transferred to the charitable societies to help or to the General Organization for Social Insurance. If he is disabled and nobody is there to take care of him, he is transferred to the social care home.

No comments: