JEDDAH, 30 July 2006 — The anti-beggary department, in coordination with the police and Passport Department, have arrested 2,500 people in June and July this year in a massive crack down on beggars in Jeddah.
In addition, police have also smashed two major beggar-networks run by African and Arab overstayers. Authorities say they have also confiscated substantial amounts of money. Over 30 percent of those arrested were children, 40 percent women while 20 percent were those who had remained in the Kingdom on Haj and Umrah visas.
Beggars tend to be seen across Jeddah loitering outside shopping malls and major road junctions. According to the police, gangmasters transport the beggars to various locations across the city. The beggars then capitalize on their fake injuries and severed limbs to invoke people’s sympathy to collect money.
Experts say that beggary is a SR270 million industry in the Kingdom and that on average a beggar collects SR40,000 per year. According to recent studies, money collected is usually sent abroad and the amount of money earned differs to the area beggars are located in. Beggars in Jeddah can earn an average of SR120 per day in neighborhoods in the north of Jeddah while people located in the southern neighborhoods earn a lot less.
In the run up to Ramadan, the anti-beggary department is preparing a detailed plan to tackle the problem. A source from the department in Jeddah said that people arrested would be investigated to make sure that they are legally residing in the Kingdom and later sent to court. Children are sent to a special department where they are taken care of. Their families are also contacted to find out why they are begging.
