Adnan Al Shabrawi

Saudi Gazzette

 

JEDDAH — The Anti-beggary Unit in Jeddah arrested more than 558 beggars during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr by intensifying their campaigns in coordination with concerned authorities. Ninety-eight percent of those rounded up were expatriates, while 14 Saudis were also arrested.



The director of the unit, Saad Al-Shahrani, said that the number of arrested domestics amounted to 1823 and were returned to their sponsors. Domestics not sent back to their sponsors are kept in a special section and are provided with temporary housing. He also said that the Ministry of Social Affairs has intensified plans to arrest beggars and take the necessary action against them. Field campaigns have focused on commercial centers, hospitals, mosques, and streets.



Foreign beggars are referred to the Passport department for deportation, while Saudi beggars are referred to social insurance or to charities to assist them. The director added that anti-begging campaigns in Jeddah are organized in daily patrols with the cooperation of the competent authorities, since it is a shared responsibility.

 

He also said that beggars multiply in numbers during Ramadan, Eid and Hajj and are being rounded up throughout the year. Statistics show that the majority of them are foreigners whose numbers increase dramatically during the period between Ramadan and Hajj.



The Ministry of Social Affairs deals with Saudi beggars through five ways: if he is able to work, he is directed to the Bureau of Labor; an orphan is directed to orphanages; an elderly is directed to the nursing home; if he is vulnerable, he is directed to the guidance and observation house; while a woman is directed to the elderly  women housing. The ministry does not have any obstacles in dealing with Saudi beggars, while non-Saudi beggars are the responsibility of the Deportation Office.