MAKKAH, 14 May 2006 — For each homeless man there is a story to tell. Some were rich and successful businessmen until they fell on hard times. Some were happy family men until their children grew up and threw them out. Some were sick and could not bear the expenses for treatment and decided to spend whatever was left of their lives underneath a bridge.
There are shelters for the homeless, but some prefer to stay under a particular bridge in Makkah, which Arab News visited recently.
The Al-Malaa Bridge, located near the holy city’s Al-Sulaimaniya neighborhood, has a few regulars who have scratched out a life among discarded furniture, boxes, and buckets of water.
One man, who called himself Adel and said he was 50 years old, said he has been living underneath the bridge for more than a year and claimed to have been a successful businessman before losing everything.
“My brothers live in Makkah and they come to visit me every once in a while,” Adel told Arab News. “The strange thing is that they refuse to help me. I rely on the charity of strangers.”
Abdullah Salem was another one of the bridge’s denizens. He has staked out a corner of the bridge with a cobbled-together living room and bedroom made from discarded items. Salem said he has been living under the bridge for about two years.
“I am sentenced to this life forever after I lost everything: My job, my family and my house. My family never asked about me. The people of the street are my family and they ask about me all the time and give me food and money,” said Salem.
He said that he started living underneath the bridge two years ago. He said that a committee from the governorate office in Makkah took his name and picture and promised him a place in the social insurance, but he is yet to see any actual assistance.
Elsewhere, we noticed an old man in his 50s sitting on a nice chair preparing tea. He looked different from the rest because he was wearing clean, nice clothes. We approached him and asked him whether he was living under the bridge or visiting the place. He said that he was living there and that his name was Muhammad. He claims to be living under the bridge by choice.
“I have my own philosophy of life. I am from a rich family in Makkah but I refuse to live in nice houses. I see happiness in living a simple life. My family tried to convince me to live with them but I refused. I met many nice people here and I am well-known in the area. People drink tea with me and we socialize. I know what is happening around the world through the radio that I have. People love to come to my place to drink tea and smoke. I do not see anything wrong with the way I live as long as I am respecting public laws. In Ramadan and Haj I help visitors and pilgrims. I refuse to accept charity because I am rich but I direct those that want to give charity to the needy living in the bridge on the other side.”
