RIYADH, 17 November 2002 — The number of beggars in the Kingdom increases by 50 percent during Ramadan, according to Awadh Al-Radadi, deputy minister of labor and social affairs. He told Al-Watan daily that 80 percent of beggars are non-Saudis.
“The beggars use different methods to draw the attention and sympathy of philanthropists. They often display medical bills and house rent agreements and tell sob stories of their sufferings to win sympathy,” he said.
The beggars use modern telecommunication methods such as mobiles to inform one another about the arrival of anti-beggary squads.
Radadi highlighted his ministry’s efforts to fight beggary, especially during Ramadan, and called upon Saudis and expatriates to cooperate with the attempt to eradicate this negative phenomenon from society, by not showing any sympathy toward beggars.
He urged Saudis and expatriates to give their zakah and sadaqa to charitable societies to distribute it among deserving people.
“The anti-beggary bureau is meant not only to fight beggary but also to study the condition of needy people and provide them with necessary assistance,” he said.
Saudi authorities have so far arrested 13,580 beggars including 11,848 foreigners last year after raids in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha.
