The awareness-raising event for the 4th National Census of Population and Housing took place at a mosque in the area as part of a drive to engage with foreign communities.

“This is within the programs to raise awareness about the census among citizens and foreigners with a view to ensuring their complete cooperation with enumerators,” deputy supervisor of the census in Makkah region Ahmad bin Salim Banaamah told Arab News. He said campaigns relating to the census in the region have been ongoing for a long time.

“Awareness gatherings were earlier organized for the Burmese, Indian and other foreign communities in the Holy City to ensure their full cooperation with enumerators and to train them on how to provide accurate answers,” Banaamah said.

He said as part of the campaign flyers, stickers, pens, T-shirts, caps and mugs have been distributed.

Banaamah said over 10,000 enumerators have been intensively trained at more than 100 centers on how to fill out the 59-point questionnaire and how to effectively communicate with families, especially those who are reluctant to provide answers.

He also said that all houses, shops and real estate units have been numbered to make them easy to count.