MAKKAH: With the Haj season being the busiest period of the year for traders in Makkah, many widowed and divorced women are forced to make ends meet by annually selling their wares in alleyways close to the Grand Mosque, and in the souks of the Al-Mansour and Al-Otaibiya neighborhoods of the holy city.

Saleha Saad, who is in her 40s, has been selling goods on the streets of Makkah for 17 years. She says she sells goods to support her children. “There was nothing that I could do after my husband died. Before he died we lived well. Now I am forced to sell goods in the market just to make ends meet,” she said.

Saad said her main concern is the Makkah Municipality. “The municipality should treat us with kindness. Instead they confiscate our products and leave us with nothing,” she added.

Umm Wijdan, 52, is a Saudi woman selling clothes on the streets. “I’ve been selling in the market for two years. I used to work as a seamstress. Now, I use my sewing skills to make clothes, which I then sell in the market,” she said.

“I suffered a stroke recently. It has slowed me down and I am not able to stand at my stall for a long time,” she said. “My husband was working but now he has diabetes and cannot work anymore. I work from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and try to earn enough money to ensure we are able to eat,” she said. “There are some people who help us financially and donate money to us every once in a while.”

Ayesha Barnawi, 36, is an African expatriate. She said all women selling on the streets have their own reason forcing them to sell on the streets. “I’m not a Saudi and I’m not included in the social welfare system,” said Barnawi. “Even if I were eligible for welfare, the money would not be enough. Most of the Saudi women selling here are eligible for welfare. However, the cash they receive simply isn’t enough. I have five children and a sick husband to support,” she added.

Barnawi said it would be great if the municipality would provide women like her with small shops in a special section of the market. “I wish they would also stop chasing us and confiscating our goods. The money I make is hardly enough for food. I still cannot pay for electricity and water,” she said.

Looking tired and exhausted was Umm Khaled, a 72-year-old Saudi woman selling clothes and products for women. “I have been sick for three days. I have a son working in Kuwait. He, however, cannot support me because he has his own family to support.”

Umm Khaled said she returns home each day at 11.30 p.m. “I’m out here because I need cash to pay for my 17-year-old grandson’s education. I’m hoping my grandson will support me when he graduates,” she added.

Muhab Mustapha Abadah, head of the Al-Otaibiya Municipality in Makkah, said the civic body is just finishing a study to see whether a special section can be designated for women traders at Al-Otaibiya Market. “Such a move if approved would improve the working condition of these women. I’m optimistic the study will be approved. It will make these women happy,” he added.